About local government reorganisation 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.
What LGR means for Oxfordshire
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, 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 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.
- 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
During November, scrutiny committees, cabinets, councils and executives across all Oxfordshire councils will be asked to debate and approve the proposals. 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 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 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.