Thames Valley devolution plans put to government

Leaders in the Thames Valley have agreed on a plan for local devolution, which they say could bring "billions of pounds of investment" to the region.

Authorities in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Swindon submitted their proposals on Monday, the day of the government's deadline for the plans.

They are calling for a devolution deal and secure funding for a new authority covering the Thames Valley ahead of Chancellor John Healey's budget on Wednesday.

The councils have spent the last two years drawing up the plans, which would create a new regional authority with similar powers to those of the mayors of Greater Manchester and London.

The Liberal Democrat leadership of Oxfordshire County Council had initially vetoed the proposals, alongside the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Both had raised concerns over Swindon's inclusion in the proposals, but this opposition was removed ahead of the government deadline.

The veto had also previously been centred on calls for the regional authority to have a mayor from the get-go - a request that had been rejected when Keir Starmer had been in Downing Street, but has not yet been declined by Andy Burnham.

The disagreements have since been resolved, with the authorities writing to the government on Monday.

It will now be up to the powers in Westminster to decide whether to approve and fund the proposals.

Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said she was "pleased" that regional support had now been reached for the new Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority.

The city council previously said the deal could "bring billions of pounds of investment" to the Thames Valley.

Brown said the plans, if approved, would be "enormously beneficial" for the region, and that the door remained open for the inclusion of Buckinghamshire in the proposals.

It would allow for "inward investment that is needed" across the Thames Valley, she said, adding: "It's been a long time coming."

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council added that the region's authorities were now awaiting a response from government.