Issue - meetings

Report of Executive Director of Resources

Purpose of report

This report summarises the council’s Full Proposal for LGR in Oxfordshire which is due to be submitted to the Government on 28 November 2025. The Full Proposal makes the case for two unitary councils underpinned by a robust options appraisal and thorough financial analysis. Two unitary councils will help ensure the future of local government in Oxfordshire is cost effective, simplified and strengthened whilst unlocking further devolution for the county.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves to:

1.1           To consider the views of Council of 10 November 2025 on the final proposal.

1.2     Approve the Council’s final proposal for Local Government Reorganisation in Oxfordshire of a two-unitary model comprising:

·        One unitary authority covering the boundaries of Cherwell District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, and Oxford City Council, with the working title ‘Oxford & Shires’.

·        A second unitary authority covering South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, and West Berkshire Council, with the working title ‘Ridgeway’.

1.3     Agree that the Leader submits the final proposal to government by the 28 November 2025 deadline.

1.4     Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Resources, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any final amendments to the full proposal and associated documentation prior to submission.

Resolved

(1)            That having given due consideration, the views of Council of 10 November 2025 on the final proposal be noted.

(2)            That the Council’s final proposal for Local Government Reorganisation in Oxfordshire of a two-unitary model comprising One unitary authority covering the boundaries of Cherwell District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, and Oxford City Council, with the working title ‘Oxford & Shires’, and a second unitary authority covering South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, and West Berkshire Council, with the working title ‘Ridgeway’, be approved.

(3)            That it be agreed that the Leader submits the final proposal to government by the 28 November 2025 deadline.

(4)            That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Resources, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any final amendments to the full proposal and associated documentation prior to submission.

The Executive Director Resources submitted a report which summarised the Council’s full proposal for two unitary councils in Oxfordshire for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

In introducing the report, the Leader of the Council thanked colleagues and officers for their diligent work and engagement on the proposals to date, including at Member briefing events held and the special Council meeting held earlier in the week.

The Leader added that across the four Oxfordshire Councils that had considered the proposals, 100 Councillors had voted in favour of the two unitary approach, with only six voting against.

Commenting on the proposals and comments made by the wider Council membership at the special Council meeting, Executive members echoed the thanks of the Leader to all those involved in the proposals so far.

Executive members highlighted that the two unitary proposal being put forward drew inspiration from the cultural, geographical and geological history of Oxfordshire. Prior to the 1974 Local Government Reorganisation, everything north of the River Thames had been Oxfordshire, with areas in the south part of Berkshire.

Regarding questions that had been raised by some residents of the District relating to the inclusion of Oxford in the northern Oxfordshire proposals, Executive members felt this was a positive opportunity but also highlighted that due to the size requirements set out by Government when LGR was announced, Cherwell and West Oxfordshire Districts together were too small to move forward. 

Executive members also commented on the hope that as proposals were advanced once Government had made their decision, more integration of climate resilience, nature recovery and sustainable development could be added to the vision, collaborating with future partners accordingly.

Councillor Rogers, Deputy Leader of the Cherwell Conservative and Independent Alliance, offered support of both the Accounts, Audit & Risk and Overview & Scrutiny Committees in the monitoring of the legal, financial and risk elements of the proposal, and added to the thanks of the Executive.

In response to a query from Councillor Rogers regarding the total cost of the proposals so far, the Leader explained that £250,000 had been set aside in an ear marked reserve. The final cost wouldn’t be known until later on in the process, but current estimates were in the range of £85,000 to £175,000, within the allocated budget.

Councillor Sibley, Leader of the Independent Group commented that the amount of support across the four councils for the two unitary proposal showed that everyone was speaking with one voice, and urged Executive to continue working in collaboration with the potential future partner councils whilst the Government decision was awaited. 

The Chief Executive added his thanks to those mentioned by the Committee, specifically to Stephen Hinds, Nicola Riley, Michael Furness, Joanne Kaye, Julian Cotton, Shiraz Sheikh, Rakesh Kumar, Clare Addison, Emma Williams and Ian Boll. 

Resolved

(1)            That having given due consideration, the views of Council of 10 November 2025 on the final proposal be noted.

(2)            That the Council’s final proposal for Local Government Reorganisation in Oxfordshire of a two-unitary model comprising One unitary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65