The district is administered by West Berkshire Council. The Council was created as a single tier (unitary) authority after the separation of Berkshire County Council in 1998. The boundary of the district corresponds with that of the former Newbury District Council.

The Council is made up of 43 councillors who are elected every four years by people who are registered to vote in West Berkshire. A leader and cabinet (known as the Executive) model was adopted in May 2001. The district of West Berkshire is made up of 24 electoral wards, and each ward is represented by up to three Councillors.

The next election to the authority will be on May 4th, 2023, whereby the new wards will come into effect.