Joint statement from South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils on local devolution

The leaders of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have reaffirmed their commitment to working constructively and collaboratively with all partners and the government on discussions around a new strategic authority that would cover the Thames Valley.

Leaders from the region met in Reading on 17 June to discuss a letter from the government proposing a Foundation Strategic Authority for an area covered by Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Swindon.

A Foundation Strategic Authority (FSA) is a regional government body that oversees things like strategic transport infrastructure, economic development and regeneration. An FSA is overseen by representatives of all the constituent councils rather than by a mayor.

To establish an FSA the government requires all councils in the area to be in consensus, however some councils in Oxfordshire and Berkshire felt they could not lend their support.

Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council, said: "If done correctly, devolution can provide opportunities to invest in communities, and strengthen local economies.

"Experience from other areas demonstrates that strategic authorities are most effective when they are supported by substantial, long-term funding settlements that enable meaningful economic growth, infrastructure delivery and public service improvement. Businesses in our area need the certainty of committed investment and funding, which wasn’t present in this proposal.

"Instead we received an offer that lacked local consensus and was based on national government’s preference for our area; it did not promise the scale of investment that we would need to deliver real benefits for our communities. If we went ahead with this proposal now, there is a risk that such an arrangement would add a layer of complexity to local government, without providing the tools or resources necessary to make a meaningful difference to our area.

"We are as frustrated as anyone as we pause on this decision, but don’t believe that we should be rushed into anything without ensuring our communities get the investment they need. We remain open to future discussions and will continue to advocate for a devolution deal that is properly resourced to deliver tangible outcomes, and reflect the economic significance and potential of our area."

Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: "We remain firmly committed to constructive dialogue about the principles of devolution in the Thames Valley to ensure the outcomes are the best they can be for our communities. We continue to believe that decisions affecting our residents are best made as close to them as possible, reflecting the unique character, priorities and aspirations of our local area.

"We were disappointed the process to establish a strategic authority moved from locally led discussions to a top-down proposal based on the government’s agenda rather than local realities.

"Authorities are most successful when there is a well-integrated economic geography. The Thames Valley is made up of a number of partially connected (at best) economic hubs. The investment in infrastructure required to integrate them is vast and including another distinct economic hub will only add to that need. Sadly, nothing tangible was on the table to give me certainty that that investment funding would be forthcoming. The proposed arrangement risks creating another layer of government at the cost of the taxpayer, on the trust and hope that something may come from government in the future. Local government cannot work on vague suggestions, and neither can our businesses.

"We remain open to work constructively with partners across the Thames Valley and with the government to secure a devolution settlement that genuinely reflects local priorities, delivers tangible benefits, and places local voices at the heart of decision-making."