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.

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.

The options

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

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. 

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

During November, scrutiny committees, cabinets, councils and executives across all Oxfordshire councils were asked to debate and approve the proposals.

The government will make the final decision on local government reorganisation in Oxfordshire.

What happens next for local government reorganisation?

Timings will be confirmed by the government

• A statutory consultation is now live, giving residents, businesses and stakeholders the opportunity to share their views on all the proposals for Oxfordshire before any decisions are made.
• The government is expected to announce its decision before the summer recess of Parliament.
• 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.

Councils within the mayoral strategic authority across the Thames Valley will work 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 debated and agreed on this at various meetings in November, and an expression of interest was submitted to the government on 19 December 2025.