Your quick guide to LGR and devolution
Contents
Why the government is proposing local government reform and devolution
The government's long-term vision is for simpler structures in local government. The government believes devolution over a large strategic geography and local government reorganisation can:
- drive economic growth
- deliver optimal public services
Additionally, they believe residents will be clearer about who they should look to for help with local issues.
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
Elected mayors will have significant powers over housing and planning in mayoral strategic authorities. 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
- East Midlands
Devolution and how it would affect Oxfordshire
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.
Devolution in Oxfordshire would mean a new combined authority comprising Oxfordshire and other neighbouring areas. The government would transfer more powers and funding to this new authority. The combined authority would then:
- make decisions locally and closer to the communities and businesses affected
- be led by an elected mayor
Councils across a wider region, such as the Thames Valley, could collaborate around key issues such as transport and economic development.
Local government reorganisation and how it would affect Oxfordshire
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.
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
A newly formed unitary authority, or authorities, would provide all those same services.
The continuing role of parish and town councils
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
- representing community voices
- ensuring people have influence over their place and their valued community assets
The government committed to working with the town and parish council sector:
- to improve engagement between town and parish councils and local authorities
- to maintain existing structures and mechanisms for community partnership
The government wants to "rewire" the relationship between town and parish councils and principal local authorities, strengthening expectations on engagement and community voice.
New boundaries in Oxfordshire
The six councils in Oxfordshire have discussed new boundaries. We have shared some interim proposals with central government and will submit full proposals by 28 November. Central government will make the final decision.
Areas 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.
Where we are with local government reorganisation and devolution
In March 2025, Oxfordshire councils submitted interim proposals to the government, which set out three potential options for a new unitary authority or authorities. Full proposals need to be submitted by 28 November 2025.
The councils will have further detailed discussions so we can submit final proposals by 28 November 2025. The government will then decide what form of unitary authority or authorities Oxfordshire will adopt.
We have been discussing our proposal for a mayoral strategic authority with Oxfordshire councils and neighbouring authorities in the Thames Valley. Leaders will meet again after the May local elections.