A Berkshire-wide collaboration between all of the county’s major councils will produce a ‘better Berkshire,’ a council boss has said.

The Berkshire Prosperity Board is intended to help the county attract business and investment, and was set to hold its first meeting on Monday June 17.

It will be made up of all six of Berkshire’s ‘unitary authorities’ West Berkshire, Reading Borough, Wokingham Borough, Bracknell Forest, Slough Borough, and Windsor and Maidenhead.

Jackie Yates, Chief Executive of Reading Borough Council, said: “By working collaboratively we will be in a much stronger position to tackle those challenges we all face, and put us in a better position when applying for funding and investment opportunities from Government.

“Berkshire is not immune to the challenges of economic growth and many residents are facing increasing living costs. By working together we can build on our existing good working relationships and provide a better Berkshire for all our residents.”

Wokingham Borough Council’s leader Stephen Conway has previously promised it won’t be a gateway to a regional mayor such as those in London, Manchester, the West Midlands or Teesside.

But plans for the board say they hope it will set the county up to take advantage of any future ‘devolution’ moves that transfer powers from the government to councils.