The government wants to simplify local government and give more power and money to local areas.
To do this, the government wants to do two things:
- Devolution
- Local government reorganisation
Local Government Reorganisation - what does this mean for Oxford?
Oxford currently has two councils:
- Oxford City Council – 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
The government will replace these with a single council, which would be responsible for providing all local services for the Oxford area. This is known as local government reorganisation, or LGR.
Local Government Reorganisation proposals for Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire and West Berkshire councils submitted three different proposals to government in November 2025.
On the 16 July 2026, the government decided to proceed with the three-council model for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, following public consultation and assessment of the options:
- 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 West Berkshire
