Vale leader welcomes greater clarity on Thames Valley devolution plans
Published 28 October 2026
The government has announced plans for a new Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority – the Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council wrote to the government on Monday setting out the council’s position on the plans.
The proposed new authority would act as a new layer of local government led by an elected mayor and take responsibility for decisions on transport, infrastructure, housing, skills, economic growth and investment, giving local areas greater control over issues that affect their communities.
In a letter to the Government, Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, reiterated the council’s support the Thames Valley being included in the government’s devolution programme, recognising the opportunities it could bring for residents and businesses.
The Vale’s preference is for a geography including Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, reflecting the strong economic, public service and institutional links that have developed across the area over many years. However, following confirmation of the Government’s preferred geography, the council committed to working constructively with neighbouring authorities and partners as proposals move forward.
The letter highlights a number of practical challenges that will need to be addressed as part of the process. In particular, the council has raised concerns that including Swindon while excluding Buckinghamshire could require significant changes to existing public sector service geographies, including healthcare and policing arrangements.
The council has called for careful consideration of how these geographies can be re-aligned over time to ensure residents continue to receive effective and coherent services. Cllr Thomas has also highlighted that this provides an opportunity to resolve existing issues, where Integrated Care Board boundaries currently leave parts of Oxfordshire outside the Thames Valley health geography.
The letter also stresses the need for any future Strategic Authority to reflect the diversity of communities across the region. The Vale is home to a strong rural economy and nationally significant environmental assets and devolution needs to be properly aligned to help unlock investment in transport and infrastructure, deliver more affordable homes, strengthen rural connectivity and support communities in the transition towards a net zero future.
The Vale is also a centre of innovation and economic growth. At the heart of the Thames Valley lies Science Vale, a globally significant hub for advanced science, technology and research. The new MSA could secure the significant investment required to help support innovation, create high-value employment opportunities, and improve skills and workforce development to drive long-term prosperity across the region.
As discussions continue, the council says it will work with Government, neighbouring authorities and local stakeholders to build a robust evidence base, understand the potential benefits and challenges of the proposals, and ensure residents have opportunities to help shape future arrangements.
Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “I welcome the greater certainty the government has provided regarding its preferred geography and the next steps in the process. I remain of the view that the best Thames Valley geography should align with existing public sector boundaries, to include Buckinghamshire but not Swindon – that said I am very keen to stress that we recognise and value the important contribution Swindon already makes to communities in the western part of the Vale through its economy, services and its distinctive and unique cultural offer – it’s a great town, and this provides us with a strong foundation for the future under the government’s chosen model.
“It’s vital now that the government consults clearly and transparently with all affected audiences to ensure we have a devolution model that is based on what the communities want and need – that is, after all, what the government tells us that devolution is all about.
“There are other important challenges to work through too, particularly around existing public service boundaries, but I am committed to working constructively with Government and regional partners to ensure any future arrangements are ambitious, deliverable, financially sustainable and grounded in the needs of the communities they are intended to serve.”
The government’s announcement marks the start of a formal process to establish the new authority. Councils across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon will now work together to develop detailed proposals ahead of a stakeholder consultation planned for the New Year. Subject to approval by councils across the region and consideration of consultation responses, a formal proposal would then be submitted to government in spring 2027.
If approved by government through the statutory decision-making process, a Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority could be established in shadow form later in 2027, ahead of the first mayoral election in 2028. The authority would be overseen by an elected mayor working alongside a board comprising representatives from the region’s upper-tier authorities, while existing councils would continue to deliver day-to-day local services such as housing, waste collection, planning, leisure services and social care.
The full letter can be found here.
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