West Berkshire: History
=== Establishment ===
The district of Newbury was formed on 1 April 1974, as a merger of the borough of Newbury, Bradfield Rural District, Hungerford Rural District and Newbury Rural District, along with part of Wantage Rural District.
Until 1 April 1998, Newbury District Council and Berkshire County Council were responsible for the region at local government level. On 1 April 1998, Berkshire County Council was abolished and Newbury District Council changed its name to West Berkshire Council and took on the former County Council's responsibilities within its area.
In July 2026, the UK Government confirmed that West Berkshire would become part of a new unitary authority known as Ridgeway Council, as part of the wider reorganisation of local government in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire. The new authority would combine the existing areas of West Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse, replacing the current councils. The proposal was selected over alternative reorganisation models following a government consultation.
Under the implementation timetable, West Berkshire Council would continue to operate until 1 April 2028, when it would be abolished and its functions transferred to Ridgeway Council. Elections to a shadow authority were scheduled for May 2027, with the shadow council overseeing the transition before the new authority formally assumed responsibility in April 2028.
However on 7 September 2026, the government announced that a number of ongoing local government reorganisations, including the one affection West Berkshire, would be paused until the decision is "reviewed". Planned elections to the shadow authority will now not go ahead next year, with West Berkshire Council elections taking place instead. It is not clear if and when the proposed changes will go ahead.