England is changing shape – Slough is just the start

The Berkshire town of Slough – setting of The Office, object of John Betjeman’s scorn and home of one of the largest industrial estates in Europe – is trying to decide where it belongs.

Slough Borough Council has been told by Labour it cannot remain as an authority in its current form, and so is considering its options – one of which is to become part of the Greater London Authority.

That would not just bring an April Fools’ joke to life. It would also mean the first significant change to London’s boundary since 1965.

So what? This isn’t just about Slough, or London. It’s about a plan to reweave the tapestry of England. Labour is aiming to transform local government boundaries, declaring “an ambitious first wave of reorganisation” by 2030.

Council taxpayers may not think much of the authority they sit in, but they should note that boundary alterations could change

• how their bins are collected;
• who fixes their road’s potholes;
• how much council tax they pay; and
• the political make-up of who runs their council.

Two-tier structures (with separate councils at district and county level) will become unitary authorities in charge of nearly all local government decisions for their areas. A government white paper says authorities must become big enough to “achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks”, so existing unitary authorities will change too.

Local elections have been delayed so authorities can prepare. Opponents say the process is expensive, time-consuming and disrespects historical boundaries. Labour says reform will “improve accountability with fewer politicians who are more able to focus on delivering for residents”.

So why Slough? Slough Borough Council is a unitary authority that has faced numerous financial problems over the years, has a cabinet without a party majority and governs about 160,000 residents. It fits the bill. The council must provide an interim restructuring proposal to central government this month, and a full proposal by November.

It could choose to merge with parts of Berkshire or Buckinghamshire, but the potential benefits of becoming part of London are clear (branding opportunities, better ability to attract investment, inclusion in city-wide conversations). Plus there’s precedent.

London-ish. The current Greater London border was set following the London Government Act 1963. The historic county of Middlesex and parts of Essex, Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire were absorbed, forming the 32 boroughs (plus the City of London) that exist today.

Generations-long squabbles have since rumbled on over the cultural identity of these new London areas. But tax collectors and house prices don’t lie. If you’re part of London, you’ll pay London’s prices.

As time has passed London’s influence has expanded, creating a belt of purgatory for settlements like Slough.

• These towns benefit from London’s transport services, offer homes for the capital’s workforce, and have businesses reliant on London’s infrastructure.
• But they’re governed by other counties, with council taxes heading elsewhere.
• The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has indicated he’s open to the idea of a larger London and says he’s “happy to speak” to any areas that want to “join the party”.

Even Greater London. If Slough does become part of Greater London, this opens the floodgates for other areas to follow. Questions would arise over urban sprawl towns like:

• Watford, Hertfordshire – which sits within the M25 on the Metropolitan Line and is home to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.
• Dartford, Kent – a popular commuter town for London’s workforce, picking up TV signals from the capital’s transmitters.
• Epping, Essex – an affluent Essex town on the Central Line, surrounded by a forest of the same name, owned by the City of London corporation.

Urban population growth is outpacing overall population growth. The case for entirely redrawing the map of Greater London, and indeed other British cities, is growing more convincing. Even if Slough chooses not to join London, the starter pistol has been fired.

What’s more… There are signs that London’s draw as a capital markets hub is waning, as businesses look to float elsewhere. It will be looking for ways to compensate.