About local government reorganisation (LGR) and devolution

On 16 December 2024, the government published a white paper on a national programme of devolution and reform to local government. 

The government's vision

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.

The government aims to:

• reorganise and simplify the structures of councils in England by replacing county and district councils with unitary authorities - this is known as local government reorganisation (LGR)
• devolve more powers and funding from national to local government - this is known as devolution.

The government believes that devolution over a large strategic geography, alongside local government reorganisation, can drive economic growth for that area while delivering better public services for communities.

In Oxfordshire, all of the same services will 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.

Currently, six councils provide services in Oxfordshire:

• Oxfordshire County Council
• Cherwell District Council
• Oxford City Council
• South Oxfordshire District Council
• Vale of White Horse District Council
• West Oxfordshire District Council.

In February 2025, the government  invited councils in Oxfordshire to  submit an interim proposal(s) for local government reorganisation. Three interim proposals were submitted in March 2025.

What's happened so far?

All three final proposals, including One Oxfordshire, our proposal for a single unitary council for Oxfordshire, were submitted to the government on 27 November 2025. 

A statutory consultation on the proposals took place from February - March 2026. This gave residents, businesses and stakeholders the opportunity to share their views on all the proposals for Oxfordshire before any decisions are made.

We are now waiting for the government to make its decision on which proposal to take forward.

What are the options?

1. A single unitary council for Oxfordshire - Oxfordshire Council (responsible for all services for Oxfordshire residents). This is our preferred option.
2. Two unitary councils:
   • Oxford and Shires Council created from the existing 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.
3. 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

What happens next?

Timings will be confirmed by the government

• The government is expected to announce its decision before the summer recess of Parliament, which starts on 16 July 2026.
• We expect that, in May 2027, elections will take place for a shadow authority (or authorities) – a temporary governing body established during the transition period to a new council.
• A new council(s) will potentially come into effect on 1 April 2028. 

What devolution means for Oxfordshire

If agreed, devolution in Oxfordshire will see the creation of a new combined authority – a mayoral strategic authority – made up of Oxfordshire and other neighbouring areas across the Thames Valley. The government will transfer more powers and funding to this new authority.

The combined authority will:

• make decisions locally and closer to the communities and businesses affected
• be led by a directly elected mayor.

An expression of interest for a Thames Valley MSA was submitted to the government on 19 December.2025.

Leaders from across the Thames Valley region are progressing plans to explore creating an MSA for the region, which would bring new powers and funding to support housing (including social housing), transport, skills and local growth.

On 20 March 2026, a further expression of interest for the creation of a foundation strategic authority (FSA) as the route to full devolution and an MSA was submitted following a meeting with the Minister, Miatta Fahnbulleh. We hope to hear the outcome of this from government before summer 2026.