Six-council committee works to boost economy in Berkshire

Six local authorities of Berkshire – including Windsor & Maidenhead and Slough – have set up a joint committee to help promote the economic interests of the county.

Berkshire Prosperity Board met for the first time on Monday (June 17) to discuss its goals – how to engage businesses and attract investors, and which key areas to boost.

In attendance were representatives from the six unitary authorities of Berkshire, with chief executives and leaders from each council, including RBWM leader Simon Werner and Slough leader Dexter Smith.

The board’s general aim is to create a unified front that will have more collective power than the individual authorities to influence Government and entice investment.

This it will do by targeting key sectors of needed improvement across the county, including in work, education, affordable housing, infrastructure (energy, water, digital, transport) and achieving net zero carbon emissions.

It is hoped that the collective efforts of unified councils will help in a number of ways, including shaping policy and making a ‘strong case’ to Government.

It is also hoped to ‘help Berkshire interact at large scale’ on infrastructure in a way that has a ‘much stronger chance’ at being attractive to investors, nationally and internationally.

Each local authority will work on a different stream, with RBWM looking at education/work and Slough looking at inequalities.

Education entails looking at apprenticeships, recruitment – including hard-to-recruit-for sectors – and workforce skills.

The board will work with colleges, universities and skills providers across the region and ‘join up more effectively’ with the Department of Work and Pensions.

Affordable housing is a ‘key issue’ in Berkshire, with house prices ‘relentlessly’ on the rise.

The county faces particular pressure given the number people who want to move there from London. The number of key workers who need homes is also a concern.

The struggle for affordable housing is placing pressure on temporary accommodation across Berkshire.

Its new Prosperity Board plans to work in partnership with developers and hosing associations to secure funding and get people to invest in the area, looking to engage private investors and Homes England.

On infrastructure, the biggest pressure is on the electrical network. The need for it is increasing, putting ‘strain’ on the network. This is affecting the ability to develop infrastructure.

Similarly, technology and data infrastructure (including things like data centres) needs addressing, to support businesses and people working from home.

The board will be looking at transport needs in rural and urban areas and water matters, including flooding.

On net-zero, the plan is to look at how to decarbonise the Berkshire energy system, both commercial and domestic, retrofitting buildings where needed.

The board will be looking at opportunities for zero carbon energy production.

To support these aims, the engagement of the business sector is essential and the board will be looking to work with them to understand their ‘immediate issues, risks and barriers.’

Work behind the scenes is ongoing.

Board members acknowledged the need to be ‘sensitive’ to the different needs and priorities of different areas in Berkshire, relating to their sizes and demographics.

Nonetheless, the unified work of these six authorities working together is believed to have ‘enormous advantages’ for all.

Wokingham Borough Council is the accountable body for the Berkshire Prosperity Board.