Call to back simpler, stronger services for Oxfordshire as consultation is launched
People in Oxfordshire are being urged to have their say as part of a statutory government consultation on the future of local government in the county.
The consultation launched today (Thursday 5 February) and will run until 23:59 Thursday 26 March.
There are three proposals being consulted on for Oxfordshire. Oxfordshire County Council is backing its One Oxfordshire proposal, which is for a single countywide unitary council – Oxfordshire Council. There are two other proposals – one proposing two unitary councils and the other three councils. Both of these include West Berkshire.
One Oxfordshire will create stronger, simpler services that are closer to communities, connected and cost effective.
It will bring all services together under one roof, protect high‑performing social care, simplify and improve services through better coordination and save £63 million every year. One Oxfordshire will give residents one front door to access services, stronger local decision‑making, and a unified voice that can drive investment, innovation and sustainable growth.
Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The government’s call for local government reform is both timely and necessary. One Oxfordshire offers a once in a generation opportunity to build a stronger, fairer and more ambitious future for the county.
“It is the only proposal that fully meets government criteria with the scale, efficiency and resilience to save the most money and withstand future financial shocks; the stability to protect and improve critical services; and the simplicity residents want.
“It will bring together all council services across Oxfordshire to create a new single authority, Oxfordshire Council, with the strength and voice to activate exciting and enduring change.
“We will reduce duplication, protect our critical services and have the scale to focus and invest in prevention and early help, tackling inequalities and homelessness.
“By bringing together all the levers of local government into a single, resilient authority, we can unlock the full potential of our people and places, drive innovation and deliver the high quality services our communities deserve.
“We urge people to have their say and take this opportunity to support our positive vision for the future.”
One Oxfordshire will strengthen local democracy through robust neighbourhood governance with a stronger partnership with town and parish councils and a set of new area committees. Local voices will be heard, with clear accountability and a single set of councillors operating at the heart of their areas.
A single unitary council for Oxfordshire will not separate Oxfordshire’s residents, businesses and institutions from the county they are in or move boundaries from the places and communities they recognise.
Oxfordshire County Council already delivers services on a countywide footprint to over 750,000 residents, providing 85 per cent of local government services by expenditure in Oxfordshire. These include adult and children’s social care, some education services, public health, fire and rescue, libraries and museums, roads and transport, trading standards, waste disposal and recycling.
One single council for Oxfordshire will avoid splitting critical services up and means less disruption, including those delivered in partnership, such as health. It will also avoid the costly and risky separation of high-performing services, particularly in adult and children’s social care rated “good” by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission. We will protect and improve these critical services.
One Oxfordshire will streamline and coordinate strategic planning and housing across the whole of the county, delivering more homes in the right places and overcoming the failures of fragmented governance.
A single countywide unitary council simplifies services for residents, businesses and investors and makes them stronger with clear accountability – one set of councillors, one chief executive, one set of services, one senior management team, one set of buildings and one front door to access services. Money saved from creating simpler services can be reinvested into strengthening them.
One Oxfordshire offers the quickest, most cost effective and safest route to a safe, legal and confident new council, one that is ready to transform from day one.
What are the three options
- A single unitary council for Oxfordshire – Oxfordshire Council. This is our preferred option.
- Two unitary councils – Oxford and Shires Council and Ridgeway Council.
- Three unitary councils – Greater Oxford Council, Northern Oxfordshire Council and Ridgeway Council.
How to have your say
Visit oneoxfordshire.org.uk to find information on all three proposals and how to have your say.