A consensus has emerged for the shape of Local Government Reorganisation in the area after five councils in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire have formally supported a proposal for two new, innovative, and locally accountable unitary authorities, aimed at addressing current inefficiencies, enhancing services, and saving millions in response to the government’s call for reform of council structures.
After reviewing all three proposals for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, the majority of councils in the area have agreed that the two-unitary option offers the best outcomes for local residents and will urge the government to proceed with the proposal when a decision is made next year.
As the councils discussed the options, the clear benefits of the two-unitary proposal put it ahead of the other options. The key areas:
- Delivering betterservices: The proposal responds to what residents have said needs improving, from highways and social care to planning.
- The best financial outcomes: Delivers the greatest potential savings (£59.8m annually) and lowest financial risk of all three proposals, helping to protect key services and ensure long-term stability across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.
- Boosting both rural and urban economies: Drives sustainable growth across Oxford, market towns and rural areas, creating more jobs, better transport and the right homes in the right places.
- Creates councils responsive to their communities: Keeps councils close to all local communities and tailored to their specific needs, ensuring strong local accountability and representation.
Forming two unitary councils has the potential to save the most money of all the proposals for the area (based on shared PwC modelling) and, at the same time, creates authorities that are big enough to be efficient, stable, and reliable, but small enough to care for and be responsive to communities.
The Councils also raised concerns about the other proposals.
For the single-unitary proposal, they expressed concerns that it was too large, would be far too distant from communities and did not show the ambition local communities and businesses deserved.
For the three-unitary proposal, they expressed concerns that it would not create financially sustainable councils, did not meet the government criteria, and would negatively impact Oxford and the green belt.
Across the four Oxfordshire district councils and West Berkshire Council, members have been fully briefed on all three proposals and have discussed them in detail over recent weeks. At their full council meetings, they were asked for their views and to vote on the two-unitary option before their Cabinets and Executives made a decision. Of the 158 councillors in attendance across the areas, 142 voted to support the two-unitary proposal, 9 were against and 7 abstained, showing overwhelming support that the two-unitary option is the best for their areas.
Oxfordshire County Council did not ask their full council for its view before its Cabinet decided to submit the single Oxfordshire unitary proposal. The full council meeting at Oxford City Council will only discuss the proposals after its Cabinet decided to submit the three-unitary proposal.
The proposal will be submitted to the government before the 28 November deadline, and it is anticipated that the government will consult on all proposals for the area in spring 2026 before deciding later in the summer. The government’s preferred model is scheduled to become fully operational in 2028.
Residents can read the full proposal or a shortened version on the website www.twocouncils.org. The proposal covers all the key points, including how services will be run, financial modelling, implementation plans, and the vision for the future.
Cllr David Hingley, Leader of Cherwell District Council, said:
“This proposal for two new unitary councils is about creating strong, efficient organisations that remain close to the communities they serve. It offers the right balance between local identity and financial sustainability — large enough to deliver value for money, but local enough to stay connected to residents and businesses.
“The two-unitary option is the most credible and community-focused way to deliver lasting change for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.”
Cllr David Rouane, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said:
“Residents have been clear, they want councils to be efficient while delivering better services. They also need to represent their communities and deliver on their behalf.
“The single unitary option is complacent. It doesn’t address the need for service improvement, and it will leave communities isolated by what would be the biggest non-metropolitan unitary mega-council in the country. The two-unitary option delivers councils small enough to care but big enough to be efficient.”
Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council, said:
“This is a once in a generation opportunity – and we need to think about what will truly deliver for our communities both now and in the future.
“The three-unitary option would be devastating for Oxford, the green belt and the surrounding area. The proposal isn’t viable – all of the growth is planned for a heavily constrained Green Belt and it won’t be long before all the developable land is used up and the city has to knock on its neighbouring councils’ doors asking for help to deliver housing. It’s also disappointing to see that there isn’t a credible model included in the three-unitary proposal for the south and north councils.”
Cllr Jeff Brooks, Leader of West Berkshire Council, said:
“It’s important that through LGR we deliver the best option for our residents.
“The two-unitary option creates councils that are aligned to their communities, will deliver the sustainable growth we need and give us the platform to deliver better, more cost-effective services.
“It will help us proactively tackle the financial challenges facing West Berkshire as a small unitary authority whilst preserving the character and communities we hold dear.”
Cllr Andy Graham, Leader for West Oxfordshire District Council, said:
“The two-unitary option is the only one that provides a credible option for the future of local government in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.
“It would deliver better services, save money and remain responsive to our communities. Neither of the other proposals does this. The three unitary would be too risky and could lead to unsustainable councils that end up struggling in future, the single unitary does not deliver what our communities and businesses want and deserve.”
The two-unitary proposal – which is one of three being put forward for the area – would create two councils covering the following geographical areas:
- Oxford and Shires Council would comprise all of the existing district areas of Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire.
- Ridgeway Council would be made up of the whole of West Berkshire Council’s area and all of the existing district areas of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.
The other two options considered by the councils were:
- A single county unitary proposal for Oxfordshire led by the county council
- The three-unitary proposal for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire led by Oxford City Council
