The expression of interest  sets out a shared ambition for an MSA – a new combined authority led by a directly elected mayor and made up of a number of councils – to secure new powers and funding for the area. This would enable local councils to plan and deliver more integrated and effective transport, infrastructure, the right type of housing – with an emphasis on social housing – creating the conditions for faster, more inclusive growth across the region.

The MSA will make decisions that positively impact communities and businesses across the wider region, with local councils continuing to deliver critical and wider public services for the benefit of all residents.

Councils across the region debated the expression of interest in their meetings during November and December. The letter submitted to government was signed on behalf of these authorities by Councillor Mary Temperton, Leader of Bracknell Forest Council and Chair of the Berkshire Prosperity Board, and Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council.

Councillor Mary Temperton, Leader of Bracknell Forest Council and Chair of Berkshire Prosperity Board, said: “Signing the expression of interest is an important step forward in our local devolution journey and together we hope that this will provide a compelling case to government for sustained investment in the region. I am looking forward to continuing the productive discussions that have been taking place and developing our plans with government.

“Our aim with the MSA is that it will help boost the local economy and improve services that are really important to our residents, like transport and housing as well as boost jobs. It will also be an opportunity for our area to take charge of big infrastructure projects which make a real difference to lives locally.”

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We have a once in a generation chance to seize the opportunities that devolution offers. By coming together as a strategic authority, our councils can better coordinate resources and expertise to deliver the support our residents need. Our collaboration will support innovative businesses, expanding access to skills training, affordable homes, and a modern, joined-up transport network – ensuring everyone benefits from new opportunities and an improved quality of life.

“A Thames Valley MSA will harness the collective strengths of the region to unlock unparalleled prospects for inclusive and sustainable growth. It provides a unique opportunity to shape our urban and rural places ensuring lasting benefits for current and future generations.

“I look forward to continuing further discussions with councils and government on realising our vision.”

The Thames Valley MSA will be designed to speed up delivery, attract investment and strengthen one of the UK’s most productive and innovative regional economies. The ambition is for a strategic growth partner for neighbouring authorities where joint working will be beneficial, for example councils linked to the Oxford - Cambridge corridor.

Council discussions will now continue, including with government, with detailed proposals being developed in the coming months for consideration by local councils and partners.

For further information visit www.reading.gov.uk/devolution.

Leaders from across the Thames Valley are progressing plans to pursue a mayoral strategic authority (MSA) for the region, a new combined authority made up of a number of council areas, which would be led by a directly elected mayor.

Through an expression of interest letter to government, leaders will set out a shared ambition to secure new powers and funding. This would enable local councils to plan and deliver more integrated and effective transport, infrastructure, the right type of housing – with an emphasis on social housing – creating the conditions for faster, more inclusive growth across the region. The MSA will make decisions locally and closer to the communities and businesses affected, with local councils continuing to deliver critical and wider public services for the benefit of all residents.

Councils will debate the expression of interest in their meetings during November and December. If agreed, this will be submitted to government at the end of the year.

If agreed by government, devolution has the potential to unlock up to £18.7 billion for the Thames Valley economy by 2040, generating £7 billion in additional annual tax revenue*, and create new opportunities for residents and businesses.

It will also support coordinated investment of housing, roads and public transport, expand skills and training, and ensure research and innovation translate into jobs and growth across every part of the region.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We have a once in a generation chance to seize the opportunities that public sector reform and devolution offers. A Thames Valley MSA will harness the collective strengths of the region to unlock unparalleled prospects for inclusive and sustainable growth together with coherent regional planning for housing, transport and economic development. It provides a unique opportunity to shape our urban and rural places ensuring lasting benefits for current and future generations.’’

Councillor David Hingley, Leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “Cherwell fully supports the rationale for a Thames Valley mayoral strategic authority. Devolution done right offers a real opportunity to secure faster investment, provide a strong voice for our area, and drive joined-up decision-making. By working together across the Thames Valley, we can achieve greater impact and long-term benefits for residents and businesses throughout Cherwell, Oxfordshire and the wider region.”

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, said: “The Thames Valley already leads in research and innovation. With the right leadership, powers and funding, we can unlock even more of that potential – creating jobs not only in science and tech, but across logistics, education, hospitality and beyond. London and Manchester have secured major infrastructure improvements through mayoral strategic authorities, particularly in transport. Oxford deserves those same opportunities.”

Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “As an ambitious council we are fully supportive of devolution and the opportunities it will provide for West Oxfordshire and the wider region. It will provide us with a great platform to work as partners on key issues such as delivering the homes our communities need, tackling the climate emergency, boosting our economy and improving infrastructure. We would encourage government to consider our proposal quickly and support us in delivering a new mayoral strategic authority in line with the LGR timeline.”

Councillor David Rouane, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “The Thames Valley makes good sense for a strategic authority. It is a thriving economic region and it’s important to combine communities that identify closely and have complementing strengths and opportunities. Oxfordshire and Berkshire have a long and overlapping history that would provide a robust foundation for what comes next.”

Councillor Bethia Thomas, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: "In Oxfordshire, we've been positive and proactive in ensuring local government reorganisation happens quickly and in a way that benefits our communities - it would help realise those benefits if the strategic authority was delivered on the same timeline to help give clarity and confidence to our communities, local businesses and potential investors." 

The Thames Valley MSA will be designed to speed up delivery, attract investment and strengthen one of the UK’s most productive and innovative regional economies. The ambition is for a strategic growth partner for neighbouring authorities where joint working will be beneficial, for example related to the Oxford - Cambridge corridor.

Discussions on a Thames Valley MSA have included local authorities in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Swindon – no decisions have been made.

Following council decisions on the submission of the expression of interest, and subject to ongoing discussions with government, detailed proposals will then be developed in the coming months for consideration by local councils and partners.

For further information visit reading.gov.uk/devolution.

*Figures taken from the expression of interest document (This estimate is based off the ratio of GDP to national taxation (UK taxation as 37 per cent of GDP) established by Institute for Fiscal Studies research).

A single unitary authority for Oxfordshire would protect and enhance key services like social services for children and adults and public health, which are currently delivered at county scale. It would also deliver greater cost-savings than having several smaller authorities.

Following a cabinet meeting in March endorsing this approach, a letter was sent to Local Government Minister Jim McMahon from Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council. It said that a single county unitary “is in the best interests of all our residents and aligns with the government’s ambitions for local government”.

The district and city councils have recently published more information about their alternative proposals for the future of local government in Oxfordshire.

Cllr Leffman responded: “Following the election on 1 May, our cabinet now has slightly different membership but our view on this subject has not changed. We firmly believe a single council for all Oxfordshire provides the best solution for our county and its residents. It will create stronger, simpler services that are cost effective, connected and closer to communities.   

“A single Oxfordshire council would mean no disruption to vital services like social care and education, and maintains the strong links between Oxfordshire’s communities, businesses and institutions.

“Approximately 85 per cent of services in Oxfordshire by expenditure are already provided on a countywide basis by the county council. This includes 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. Economic growth and climate adaptation is provided on a countywide basis by district councils within their boundaries.

“ A single county unitary would provide Oxfordshire with the necessary scale and financial resilience that it needs, yet at the same time remain locally responsive through an enhanced role for town and parish councils.   We recognise that issues are always most effectively dealt with at the earliest stage and closest to the communities that we serve.

“This is an ambitious county with an economy built on that collective ambition and assets. It is critical to Oxfordshire’s future that we maintain the links between our great universities and organisations developing advanced technology, including on Bicester, Culham, Harwell and Milton Park campuses, so that our county can drive innovation and sustainable, inclusive growth.

“A single county unitary council offers clear accountability for all local government through a single group of elected councillors. There will be one chief executive, one senior management team and one workforce delivering on the priorities for all of Oxfordshire.

“There would be one front door to access effective and efficient services from social care to housing, public health, community safety, planning and everything in between. That is clear progress and we are calling on the government to encourage all councils across Oxfordshire to move at pace towards an early submission of our proposals.”

What options were submitted to government in March?

Each cabinet or executive at Oxfordshire’s six councils endorsed a joint response to government that set out how local authorities are collaborating to develop proposals for new unitary structures. The response included information on each of the three options being developed for Oxfordshire, in line with the criteria set out in the government’s statutory invitation.

The options are:

1. A single county unitary council for Oxfordshire – Oxfordshire Council. This is the preferred option of Oxfordshire County Council
2. North Oxfordshire Council (this is now being referenced as Oxford and Shires Council) created from the existing district councils of Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire; and Ridgeway Council created from the existing district councils of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse and the unitary council of West Berkshire.
3. Three unitary authorities – with a unitary city on expanded boundaries as well as northern and southern unitaries, also including West Berkshire.

Next steps

The county council will be engaging with residents, businesses, institutions and investors on its proposal later this month. This will help inform the final proposal, which needs to be submitted to government by 28 November 2025. The government will then decide what form unitarisation will take in Oxfordshire.

In parallel, all Oxfordshire councils, with other partners, will continue collaborating to propose a mayoral strategic authority to government as part of the national programme of devolution.

 More information is available here: About local government reorganisation and devolution | Oxfordshire County Council

The government has asked councils in Oxfordshire to submit an interim proposal(s) for local government reorganisation by 21 March 2025, with a full proposal by 28 November 2025. A proposed response was considered and agreed by cabinets and executives in Oxfordshire on 19 and 20 March.

Further detailed discussions will take place between the councils so that final proposals can be submitted by 28 November 2025. The government will then decide what form unitarisation will take in Oxfordshire.

This newspage provides the latest information for what this means for Oxfordshire. You can also access a list of frequently asked questions from the Local Government Association

Why is local government reform and devolution being proposed?

The government’s long-term vision is for simpler structures, which make it much clearer for residents who they should look to on local issues, with more strategic decisions to unlock growth and deliver better services for communities. The government believes that devolution over a large strategic geography, alongside local government reorganisation, can drive economic growth while delivering optimal public services.

What are the various layers or tiers of local government?

In Oxfordshire, democratic representation and responsibilities for delivering services are split across a range of councils. These are sometimes referred to as tiers of local government.

1.    Parish and town councils

The first tier is that of parish and town councils. These councils may maintain local amenities such as recreational areas, footpaths and cemeteries, organise events or operate public conveniences. Parts of Oxfordshire, but not all, are covered by this tier.

2.    District (or borough) councils

The second tier is that of district councils. These organisations deliver services such as housing, environmental health, planning, waste collection, licensing and elections. Oxfordshire has five district councils, which collectively cover the whole county. They are Cherwell, Oxford City, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire.

3.    County councils

The third tier is that of county councils. These organisations deliver services such as adults and children’s services, highways and transport, waste disposal, libraries, public health, fire and rescue and trading standards. Oxfordshire County Council covers all of Oxfordshire.

4.    Combined or strategic authorities

The fourth tier is that of combined authorities. A combined – or strategic – authority is a legal body that enables a group of two or more councils to collaborate and take collective decisions across council boundaries.

They cover issues that require strategic oversight of the entire region and have responsibilities, and funding, to deliver economic development, strategic planning and transport, adult education, local growth plans and other functions.

In mayoral strategic authorities, mayors will have significant powers over housing and planning, including the ability to develop and propose the spatial development strategy for their areas, working alongside other members of the strategic authority.

Oxfordshire is not yet part of a combined authority, but it is expected that it will become one in the future. Strategic authorities already operate in areas such as Greater Manchester, West Midlands and the East Midlands.

So what is devolution? 

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. It helps ensure that more decisions are made locally and closer to the communities and businesses they affect. 

How would devolution affect Oxfordshire?

Devolution would see the creation of a new combined authority, made up of Oxfordshire and other neighbouring areas, which would be led by a directly elected mayor.

Creating a combined authority would mean that councils across a wider region, such as the Thames Valley, could work together around key issues such as transport and economic development.

And what is local government reorganisation?

In the white paper, the government has said it wants to devolve more powers from national to local government and to reorganise local government across England by replacing county and district councils, consolidating the services they provide, with unitary authorities.

What would local government reorganisation mean for Oxfordshire?

In Oxfordshire, all of the same services would still be provided, but by a newly formed unitary authority, or authorities, rather than the six councils that have operated in the county since 1974.

Those six councils are Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District Council, Oxford City Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council.

The shape of local government is yet to be determined. Counties including Oxfordshire, which have county and district councils, have been invited by government to submit proposals for becoming unitary authorities. But the decision on how local government will be structured in Oxfordshire will lie with central government. 

Are parish and town councils affected?

Parish and town councils will not be affected structurally by the changes. They will not be abolished.

The government’s white paper states that local government plays an essential role in convening local partners around neighbourhoods to ensure that community voices are represented and people have influence over their place and their valued community assets. Government committed to working with the sector to ensure that the existing structures and mechanisms for community partnership enable them to fulfil this role. It said it will work with the town and parish council sector to improve engagement between them and local authorities. This includes “rewiring” the relationship between town and parish councils and principal local authorities, strengthening expectations on engagement and community voice.

What would new boundaries be in Oxfordshire?

This is being discussed between the current six councils in Oxfordshire. Some interim proposals are proposed to be shared with central government by 21 March. The final decision will be taken by central government.

Are there other areas of the country that already operate in the way that Oxfordshire may be structured in the future?

There are many other areas of the country that have unitary authorities rather than county and district councils. These include Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Dorset, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire, Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire. Many of these councils have, within the last 10 years, been through the same reorganisation that Oxfordshire is about to embark on.

Are the 2025 county council elections going ahead?

Yes. The county council elections in Oxfordshire on 1 May will go ahead as planned.

What stage are we at?

The government has asked Oxfordshire councils to submit an interim plan for a new unitary authority or authorities by 21 March 2025, with a full proposal by 28 November 2025.

A proposed response was considered and agreed by cabinets and executives at Cherwell District Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, West

Oxfordshire District Council and West Berkshire Council on 19 and 20 March.

Further detailed discussions will take place between the councils so that final proposals can be submitted by 28 November 2025. The government will then decide what form unitarisation will take in Oxfordshire.

In parallel, all Oxfordshire councils, with other partners, will continue collaborating to propose a mayoral strategic authority to government as part of the national programme of devolution.

“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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All district council and city council leaders spoke at the meeting and are committed to further discussions.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, 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.

“By leveraging the investment and powers of a Mayoral Strategic Authority, we can accelerate the economic, social and cultural ambitions of our residents, businesses and institutions and enable Oxfordshire to cement its position as a world-class location for business, innovation and sustainable and inclusive growth.

“The government has been clear that it wishes to see unitary councils across England and move away from the two-tier system. That is why we are requesting for Oxfordshire to be placed on the fast track for local government reorganisation while we continue discussions with regional partners. This will give greater certainty to residents, our respective workforces and investors.

“It is very disappointing that Oxford City Council does not support this position and has chosen to issue its own letter to government, especially as other district councils have supported our approach.  However, we are committed to continuing to work closely with all our partners to identify the best approach to unitarisation for the best interests of all our residents across the county.”

Further meetings are scheduled between all councils to progress this issue.

Following the publication of the government’s devolution white paper on 16 December on the future of local government in England, the cabinet will be asked to agree a response.

The report to the meeting will recommend that a letter should be sent to government saying that the county council is committed to progress at pace towards a mayoral strategic authority for the Thames Valley, with further discussions to take place in the coming weeks and months.

The cabinet will be recommended to request that government places Oxfordshire into a ‘fast track’ to progress local government reorganisation while it progresses devolution conversations. 

There will also be a recommendation that the council should express significant reservations to government about postponing scheduled elections, but that it is minded to accept a postponement if government can commit to the most ambitious timescale of elections to a new shadow unitary council/councils in May 2026. 

Strategic authorities already operate in areas such as Greater Manchester, West Midlands and the East Midlands.

They work across a broader area than council boundaries and cover issues that require strategic oversight of the entire region, such as strategic planning, adult education and local growth plans.

In mayoral strategic authorities, mayors will have significant powers over housing and planning, including the ability to develop and propose the spatial development strategy for their areas, working alongside other members of the strategic authority.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Across England there is a lot of change ahead in the world of local government, triggered by the government’s recent white paper. We want to take full advantage of all the opportunities on offer for the benefit of local people both here in Oxfordshire and in our neighbouring areas.

“No decisions have yet been taken and lot of detailed discussions are still to take place between councils within Oxfordshire, across the Thames Valley and between all of those councils, their areas and central government. However, we are all aware that we need to work at pace to secure the advantages on offer. I look forward to the cabinet meeting on 9 January and to continued discussions with all of our partner councils.”