Devolution: Oxfordshire County Council to put plans to government
A plan for devolution in Oxfordshire is set to be submitted to government.The county council's cabinet is meeting later to agree on proposals.It is expected to say that a new mayor for the region should cover Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.Councillors are also set to make the case for one unitary council for the whole of Oxfordshire - which it has said could save taxpayers £27m a year.
The government announced in December 2024 proposals to abolish district councils and introduce large mayoral combined authorities in England. The changes will be the most significant reforms to local government since 1972.Some areas have been "fast-tracked" - meaning they will not have planned elections this May and will instead push on with reorganisation and devolution. Oxfordshire was not successful in its bid to be included in the fast track scheme -but has been told by government to prepare plans for reorganisation, with changes set to be in put in place in 2028.
'A single front door'
If agreed later, Oxfordshire County Council will tell government that it's "preferred geography" for a new mayoral authority will include Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.Beneath a directly-elected regional mayor, there will be one or more unitary authorities covering Oxfordshire. The council's report sets out options for one, two or three councils covering the county - with the latter two options also including West Berkshire in a "Ridgeway Council".Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet is expected to back the idea of a single council for Oxfordshire.In the authority's report, Liberal Democrat leader Liz Leffman said: "This Council would create a single front door for all local authority services across the historic and recognised county of Oxfordshire, delivering high-quality, value-for-money and responsive services to residents, businesses, institutions, visitors and investors."That position puts her at odds with other district councils in the area, who want to see a model with more than one council covering Oxfordshire.West Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Councils have proposed they form a new authority, because of their "strong demographic and economic similarities" and "significant historical ties".Oxford City Council's leader Susan Brown has said there should be "separate councils for central, northern and southern Oxfordshire together with West Berkshire to reflect our distinct geographies".
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