Ambitious One Oxfordshire bid to be submitted to ministers
A future for local government in Oxfordshire that would deliver stronger, simpler services that are closer to communities, connected and cost-effective has today (Thursday, 13 November) been approved by the council’s cabinet for submission to government.
The ‘One Oxfordshire’ proposal is built on a robust, evidence-based case for change. It offers the scale, efficiency and financial resilience needed to deliver lasting improvements for the county – without disruption to critical frontline services.
The plan for bringing services together under one unified council will now be submitted by the 28 November deadline that government has set for all two-tier areas of local government in England.
Independent analysis confirms that a single unitary council will save over £63 million annually, with total net savings of £163 million by year five. These savings will be achieved by bringing services together, removing duplication across six councils and transforming service delivery.
One Oxfordshire will protect critical services such as adult and children’s social care ,provision for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and fire and rescue, avoiding the costly and risky process of separating them across several unitary authorities.
Local democracy will be strengthened through robust neighbourhood governance, with local councillors operating at the heart of their communities together with town and parish councils and new area committees, ensuring decisions are made closer to the communities they affect.
One Oxfordshire is directly aligned with government policy on public sector reform, devolution and economic growth, and meets all the criteria set by government when it proposed reorganisation.
The proposal is underpinned by engagement with residents, businesses and public sector providers and responds directly to their priorities and concerns. It preserves Oxfordshire’s established identity and geography, maintaining the county’s strong sense of place while unlocking new opportunities for inclusive growth.
The One Oxfordshire proposal also hardwires the ability of a future council to offer an approach to sustainable economic growth that harnesses the ability of an at-scale authority to make significant investments and take serious steps to tackle inequality.
A council for all Oxfordshire can balance the growth of a thriving city with the enhanced economic impact that highly connected market towns and villages can generate in a knowledge economy that is spread right across the county.
The county council will soon publish detail on how growth opportunities can be maximised showing why a strong, single and connected voice for the whole of Oxfordshire’s interests is not just important, but critical and can only be achieved by one council for the whole of Oxfordshire.
Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We are now all set to submit to government our bold vision for a stronger, fairer and more ambitious future for every resident and business in the county.
“By bringing together all council services into one single financially resilient authority, we can unlock the full potential of our people and places, drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and deliver high quality services our communities deserve.
“This really is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a stronger and more prosperous future for Oxfordshire. One Oxfordshire will provide the scale and stability to withstand future financial shocks, the efficiency to maximise value for money, and the ambition to deliver real and lasting benefits for every resident and business.”
What options are being proposed?
The proposal to be put forward by Oxfordshire County Council is joined by two other options being developed by other councils in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire. The full list is below.
- A single unitary council for Oxfordshire – Oxfordshire Council . This is the county council’s 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.
The final decision on new local government structures in Oxfordshire will be made by the government. This decision is expected in mid-2026 following a period of public consultation.