Councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire are set to submit proposals on the shape of future local government reorganisation across the area.
In late 2024 a request was made by government to all remaining two-tier areas across England (county and city/district councils) to submit an interim proposal(s) for a new single-tier (unitary) authority or authorities by 21 March, followed by a final proposal(s) by 28 November.
The options submitted in March were:
- 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.
- An adaptation of Ridgeway Council – covering most of the existing South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts combined with existing West Berkshire unitary
- Two unitary councils:
- Oxford and Shires Council – created from the existing city/district councils of Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire.
- Ridgeway Council – created from the existing district councils of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse, and the unitary council of West Berkshire.
- A single unitary council for Oxfordshire – Oxfordshire Council.
Scrutiny committees, cabinets, councils and executives – as appropriate to the seven councils – will be asked to debate and approve the detailed documents to be submitted to government before the 28 November deadline.
The government will then decide what form unitarisation will take in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, with an announcement expected in mid-2026. On current timetables, a shadow authority or authorities would begin operating in April 2027 before a new structure or structures come into full operation on 1 April 2028.
The options will be published on the following dates:
- 29 October: Option 2 will appear on the Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, West Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse council websites.
- 31 October: Option 3 will appear on Oxford City Council’s website.
- 31 October: Option 1 will appear on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.
Councils will consider and discuss their proposals on the following dates:
- Cherwell District Council: Council on 10 November and Executive on 13 November. All-member briefings have been held in the lead-up to submission.
- Oxford City Council: Special Scrutiny Committee on 5 November, Cabinet on 10 November, Council on 24 November.
- Oxfordshire County Council: Place, Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12 November and Cabinet on 13 November.
- South Oxfordshire District Council: Council on 6 November, Joint Scrutiny Committee (with Vale of White Horse) on 10 November, and Cabinet on 13 November.
- Vale of White Horse District Council: Council on 5 November, Joint Scrutiny Committee (with South Oxfordshire) on 10 November, and Cabinet on 14 November.
- West Berkshire Council: Council on 4 November, special Resources and Place Scrutiny Committee on 10 November, and Executive on 12 November.
- West Oxfordshire District Council: Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 11 November, Council on 12 November followed by the Executive on 13 November.
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