Your questions answered
Contents
You can also read 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 in local government, which make it much clearer for residents who they should look to on local issues.
The government believes that devolution over a large strategic geography alongside local government reorganisation, can drive economic growth and deliver better public services for communities.
What are the tiers of local government?
In Oxfordshire, democratic representation and responsibilities for delivering services are split across a range of councils. We sometimes refer to these as tiers of local government. We currently have tiers 1, 2 and 3.
Tier 1 - parish and town councils
The first tier is that of parish and town councils. These councils may maintain local amenities and functions such as:
- recreational areas
- footpaths
- cemeteries
- organise events
- operate public conveniences
Parts of Oxfordshire, but not all, are covered by this tier.
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
- elections
Oxfordshire has five district councils, which collectively cover the whole county. They are:
- Cherwell
- Oxford City
- South Oxfordshire
- Vale of White Horse
- West Oxfordshire
Tier 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
- trading standards
Oxfordshire County Council covers all of Oxfordshire.
Tier 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 make collective decisions across council boundaries.
Fourth tier authorities 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
- other functions
In mayoral strategic authorities elected mayors will have significant powers over housing and planning. These powers include 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 to become one in the future. Strategic authorities already operate in areas such as Greater Manchester, West Midlands and East Midlands.
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?
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.
Councils within the mayoral strategic authority across the Thames Valley willwork together around key issues such as transport and economic development.
We are working with partners on a future Thames Valley mayoral strategic authority. Councils involved will debate and agree on this at various meetings in November. We will then submit an expression of interest for what this could look like to government by 19 December 2025.
What is local government reorganisation?
In its white paper, the government said it wanted to reorganise local government across England by replacing county and district councils and 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.
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
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 lies with central government.
Are parish and town councils affected?
The changes will not affect parish and town councils structurally, and the government will not abolish them.
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
- ensuring people have influence over their place and their valued community assets
Government wants to see stronger community arrangements in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level.
Government has said it wants to "rewire" 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?
The six councils in Oxfordshire have discussed new boundaries. Interim proposals have been shared with central government with full proposals to be submitted by 28 November. Central government will make the final decision.
Are there other areas of the country that already operate in the way that Oxfordshire may be structured in the future?
Many other areas of the country have unitary authorities rather than county and district councils. These include:
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Cheshire
- Dorset
- Northamptonshire
- North Yorkshire
- Somerset
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
Many of these councils have undergone the same reorganisation that Oxfordshire is about to embark on within the last 10 years.
What stage are we at with local government
In February 2025, the government invited councils in Oxfordshire to submit an interim proposal(s) for local government reorganisation. A proposed response was considered and agreed by cabinets and executives at all Oxfordshire councils on 19 and 20 March.
Three options were discussed, and these have now been worked on to form three final proposals for Oxfordshire.
- A single unitary council for Oxfordshire – Oxfordshire Council. This is our preferred option.
- Two unitary councils – Oxford and Shires Council and Ridgeway Council.
- Three unitary councils – Greater Oxford Council, Northern Oxfordshire Council and Ridgeway Council.
We have asked residents, businesses and partners for their views on a single council for Oxfordshire over the summer. This feedback was used to help shape our One Oxfordshire proposal.
During November, scrutiny committees, cabinets, councils and executives across all Oxfordshire councils will be asked to debate and approve the proposals. Our proposal will be considered by our Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12 November and Cabinet on 13 November.
If agreed, these proposals will then be submitted to government by 28 November 2025.
Following submission, there will be a statutory consultation giving residents and stakeholders the opportunity to share their views before any decisions are made. The government is expected to announce its decision in late spring or early summer 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 stage are we at with devolution?
We are working with partners on a future Thames Valley mayoral strategic authority. Councils involved will debate and agree on this at various meetings in November. We will then submit an expression of interest for what this could look like to government by 19 December 2025.