An aerial drone photo of Kennington

What’s changing?

The government is looking to simplify local government and give more power and money to local areas.

To do this, the government wants to do two things:

  • Local government reorganisation
  • Devolution

You can read more about the government’s plans in its English Devolution White Paper.

What is local government reorganisation?

The government is looking to simplify local government across the country.

In areas where there are more than one council, all councils would be abolished and replaced with a single ‘unitary’ council, which would be responsible for providing all local services.

Oxfordshire currently has six councils:

  • Oxford City Council, and Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire district councils: responsible for services such as planning, council housing, community centres, leisure centres, parks, and bin collections
  • Oxfordshire County Council: responsible for services such as social care, children’s services, education, highways, public health, and the fire service
Lgr Map Boundaries Trans

What does this mean for Oxford and Oxfordshire?

Under our proposals, local government reorganisation would see Oxfordshire’s existing six councils abolished and replaced with three unitary councils:

  • Greater Oxford Council – covering Oxford and its Green Belt
  • Northern Oxfordshire Council – covering most of the existing Cherwell and West Oxfordshire districts
  • Ridgeway Council – covering most of the existing South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts combined with existing West Berkshire unitary (based on the proposals being developed by those councils, but with those villages within the Green Belt closest to the city becoming part of Greater Oxford)

Each unitary council would be responsible for providing all council services in its area.

All three councils would have natural geographic and demographic connections, local accountability to residents, and would be viable under the government’s plans.

Population TodayPopulation in 2040
Greater Oxford240,000345,000
Northern Oxfordshire265,000340,000
Ridgeway430,000545,000

You can read more about the plans on the Greater Oxford proposal page.

Other unitary council proposals

There are three separate proposals being developed by different councils that would see Oxfordshire’s six councils abolished and replaced with unitary councils.

In addition to the three unitary proposal (which includes the creation of a Greater Oxford council, a northern unitary council, and a southern unitary council, also including West Berkshire), proposals for two unitary councils or a single unitary are also being developed.

Two unitary proposal

The two unitary proposal involves creation of two councils:

  • Oxford and Shires Council comprising all of the existing district areas of Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire.
  • Ridgeway Council comprising the whole of West Berkshire Council’s area and all of the existing district areas of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse

Single unitary council proposal

A single unitary proposal is also being developed which involves the creation of a single unitary council covering all of Oxfordshire.

What is devolution?

The government wants to create new directly elected mayors across all regions of England.

The government plans to devolve powers and money to these mayors, so they can coordinate strategic issues – such as housing, transport and economic growth – across their region.

The mayor would lead an administration known as a Strategic Authority.

A number of areas – including London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester – already have mayors, but most regions of England do not.

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader Of Oxford City Council, At Devolution Meeting In Oxford

What does this mean for Oxford and Oxfordshire?

Oxford and Oxfordshire are likely to be within a Mayoral Strategic Authority covering the Thames Valley region.

The new mayor would be given powers and money by the government to coordinate strategic issues – such as housing, transport and economic growth – across the region.

Representatives from councils in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon are meeting to discuss the optimum size, scope and membership of the Mayoral Strategic Authority.

Timeline

December 2024

The government published the English Devolution White Paper, outlining its intention to introduce regional mayors and reorganise local government across England.

March 2025

Oxfordshire’s six councils worked collaboratively to submit interim proposals for local government reorganisation to the government. The joint submission included three proposals – for three, two or one unitary council(s) covering Oxfordshire.

June / July 2025

Public engagement on the Greater Oxford proposals will take place, with events across the proposed Greater Oxford area.

November 2025

The deadline for councils across England to submit final proposals for local government reorganisation in their areas.

2026

The government is expected to make a decision on the structure of local government across England, including in Oxford and Oxfordshire.

2027

‘Shadow councils’ will be elected across England, including in Oxford and Oxfordshire, as the first stage to establishing the new unitary councils. The shadow councils will be responsible for establishing the new unitary council, including hiring and transferring staff.

2028

New unitary councils across England, including in Oxford and Oxfordshire, will be established and Oxfordshire’s existing six councils will be abolished.

There are currently no dates for devolution and the creation of a Mayoral Strategic Authority for the Thames Valley region.