Oxfordshire and West Berkshire councils collaborating ahead of local government announcement

Oxfordshire and West Berkshire councils collaborating ahead of local government announcement

Councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire are working closely together to prepare for a key government announcement expected in July regarding the future shape of local government in the area.

Government consultation for local government reorganisation (LGR) closed in late March with three options on the table for potential future structures. This followed the government’s invitation in February 2025 to submit proposals for a unitary council or councils in areas of England that currently have two-tiers of local authorities (counties and districts), as is the case in Oxfordshire.

The options are:

1. A single unitary council for Oxfordshire – Oxfordshire Council responsible for all services for Oxfordshire residents.

2. 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.

3. Three unitary councils:

• Greater Oxford Council – covering Oxford and its immediate surroundings
• Northern Oxfordshire Council – covering most of the existing Cherwell and West Ridgeway Council – covering most of the existing South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts combined with West Berkshire.

It will not be known whether there will be one, two or three unitary authorities for Oxfordshire until the government announces its ‘minded-to’ decision, which is its preferred, provisional decision before it’s put into law. This announcement is expected before the parliamentary summer recess, which starts on 16 July.

Leaders and chief executives of all councils in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire said: “Since the start of the year, colleagues across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire councils have been working together within a joint programme to prepare for what comes next. Following the statutory consultation, we have been collaborating to gather a variety of data and information so we are ready to move forward, whichever option gets the go-ahead from government.

“We are also thinking through the potential implications of each option, planning for how we would deliver services under one, two, or three new unitary councils to ensure we are ready to support our communities and colleagues through the changes ahead.

“Whatever change government proposes, our priority is to make sure we continue to deliver high-quality services to the people we serve during transition and beyond.

“Similar changes from two-tier local government to unitary councils have happened in many other parts of the country or are in progress. We will follow good practice as we plan ahead collaboratively during the remainder of 2026, 2027 and early 2028.”

Bringing all services together under one roof through LGR will mean residents will benefit regardless of which option the government decides to take forward. They will only need to contact one council, no matter where they live, duplication will be reduced and money saved. This money can be reinvested in the local services residents rely on. Existing town and parish councils will still provide very local services to their communities.

When the government announces its ‘minded to’ decision, it will be followed by a structural changes order (SCO), expected later in 2026. This will set out the legal basis and process for moving to the new council(s) arrangements.

From that point, the existing councils will enter a transition period, working together to prepare for the new structures. This will include the election of a shadow authority or authorities in May 2027. This shadow body(ies) will act as a temporary council(s), making key decisions and preparing for the new organisation(s). The existing councils will continue to deliver services up until vesting day. The new council or councils will officially come into effect on vesting day, which is expected to be on 1 April 2028.