Statement on devolution and a strategic mayoral authority

In response to calls from South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district leaders for Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, to confirm the council’s geographical preference for a mayoral strategic authority, she said:

“There is clear consensus among all Oxfordshire councils in wanting to move at pace towards devolution and we have communicated this ambition and commitment in our letter to government. The county council is committed to continuing to work closely with all our partners, in Oxfordshire and beyond, to identify the best approach to both devolution – and the creation of a strategic mayoral authority – and unitarisation, for the best interests of all our residents across the county. 

“I have been holding constructive conversations with leaders in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire for several weeks. My preference is for us to be able to form a strategic mayoral authority with those councils, but we have not yet reached an agreement.

“The geography of what a strategic mayoral authority could look like is one we will be discussing together at a meeting on 31 January in Oxford.”

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