Rob Wilson, MP until dissolution, has placed on record his support - and that of fellow MPs from across the county - for the six Berkshire Unitary Authorities to pilot 100% business rates retention from April 2018.
In a letter from Local Government Minister, Marcus Jones, the support of Rob and his fellow MPs was noted, with the Minister confirming that a prospectus will be issued to all local authorities in due course, to which they will need to respond formally.
Earlier this year, Rob coordinated a letter to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, signed by his parliamentary colleagues from across Berkshire, in support of the local authorities (including Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils) participating in the pilot.
This followed a request from the six Berkshire Unitary Authorities for inclusion in trialing the Government’s reforms to local government funding, to help assess the implementation of the policy in an area of mixed political leadership and strong economic growth.
Rob said: “The joint request to Government from the six Berkshire Unitary Authorities was first brought to my attention by Wokingham Borough Council. On receipt of this information, I contacted my parliamentary colleagues representing each of the respective local authorities and we agreed that the bid should be supported, due to the tremendous opportunity that it presents for both central and local government.
“The reply from the Minister notes that this support is now on record, and I am pleased to have been able to back the local authorities in Reading East in their desire to work collaboratively with those across Berkshire to help pilot Government policy.”
Attached: Letter from Marcus Jones, Minister for Local Government.