On 16 December 2024, the government published a white paper on a national programme of devolution and reform to local government. The county council’s cabinet responded by requesting that the county is fast-tracked for local government reorganisation while continuing to work with partners on a future mayoral strategic authority.
The government has asked councils in Oxfordshire to submit an interim proposal(s) plan for local government reorganisation by 21 March 2025, with a full proposal by 28 November 2025. A proposed response will be considered by cabinets and executives in Oxfordshire on 19 and 20 March.
This newspage provides the latest information for what this means for Oxfordshire. You can also access a list of frequently asked questions from the Local Government Association.
Why is local government reform and devolution being proposed?
The government’s long-term vision is for simpler structures, which make it much clearer for residents who they should look to on local issues, with more strategic decisions to unlock growth and deliver better services for communities. The government believes that devolution over a large strategic geography, alongside local government reorganisation, can drive economic growth while delivering optimal public services.
What are the various layers or tiers of local government?
In Oxfordshire, democratic representation and responsibilities for delivering services are split across a range of councils. These are sometimes referred to as tiers of local government.
1. Parish and town councils
The first tier is that of parish and town councils. These councils may maintain local amenities such as recreational areas, footpaths and cemeteries, organise events or operate public conveniences. Parts of Oxfordshire, but not all, are covered by this tier.
2. District (or borough) councils
The second tier is that of district councils. These organisations deliver services such as housing, environmental health, planning, waste collection, licensing and elections. Oxfordshire has five district councils, which collectively cover the whole county. They are Cherwell, Oxford City, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire.
3. County councils
The third tier is that of county councils. These organisations deliver services such as adults and children’s services, highways and transport, waste disposal, libraries, public health, fire and rescue and trading standards. Oxfordshire County Council covers all of Oxfordshire.
4. Combined or strategic authorities
The fourth tier is that of combined authorities. A combined – or strategic – authority is a legal body that enables a group of two or more councils to collaborate and take collective decisions across council boundaries.
They cover issues that require strategic oversight of the entire region and have responsibilities, and funding, to deliver economic development, strategic planning and transport, adult education, local growth plans and other functions.
In mayoral strategic authorities, mayors will have significant powers over housing and planning, including the ability to develop and propose the spatial development strategy for their areas, working alongside other members of the strategic authority.
Oxfordshire is not yet part of a combined authority, but it is expected that it will become one in the future. Strategic authorities already operate in areas such as Greater Manchester, West Midlands and the East Midlands.
So what is devolution?
Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. It helps ensure that more decisions are made locally and closer to the communities and businesses they affect.
How would devolution affect Oxfordshire?
Devolution would see the creation of a new combined authority, made up of Oxfordshire and other neighbouring areas, which would be led by a directly elected mayor.
Creating a combined authority would mean that councils across a wider region, such as the Thames Valley, could work together around key issues such as transport and economic development.
And what is local government reorganisation?
In the white paper, the government has said it wants to devolve more powers from national to local government and to reorganise local government across England by replacing county and district councils, consolidating the services they provide, with unitary authorities.
What would local government reorganisation mean for Oxfordshire?
In Oxfordshire, all of the same services would still be provided, but by a newly formed unitary authority, or authorities, rather than the six councils that have operated in the county since 1974.
Those six councils are Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District Council, Oxford City Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council.
The shape of local government is yet to be determined. Counties including Oxfordshire, which have county and district councils, have been invited by government to submit proposals for becoming unitary authorities. But the decision on how local government will be structured in Oxfordshire will lie with central government.
Are parish and town councils affected?
Parish and town councils will not be affected structurally by the changes. They will not be abolished.
The government’s white paper states that local government plays an essential role in convening local partners around neighbourhoods to ensure that community voices are represented and people have influence over their place and their valued community assets. Government committed to working with the sector to ensure that the existing structures and mechanisms for community partnership enable them to fulfil this role. It said it will work with the town and parish council sector to improve engagement between them and local authorities. This includes “rewiring” the relationship between town and parish councils and principal local authorities, strengthening expectations on engagement and community voice.
What would new boundaries be in Oxfordshire?
This is being discussed between the current six councils in Oxfordshire. Some interim proposals are proposed to be shared with central government by 21 March. The final decision will be taken by central government.
Are there other areas of the country that already operate in the way that Oxfordshire may be structured in the future?
There are many other areas of the country that have unitary authorities rather than county and district councils. These include Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Dorset, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire, Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire. Many of these councils have, within the last 10 years, been through the same reorganisation that Oxfordshire is about to embark on.
Will 2025 county council elections be postponed?
No. The county council elections in Oxfordshire on 1 May will go ahead as planned.
What stage are we at?
The government has asked Oxfordshire councils to submit an interim plan for a new unitary authority or authorities by 21 March 2025, with a full proposal by 28 November 2025. In parallel with this, we are continuing our discussions with neighbouring authorities across the Thames Valley about a future mayoral strategic authority.
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