Have your say on what’s next for local government in our area
06/02/2026
It’s a question of how big an area our new council should cover
A consultation has begun to gather our views on the future organisation of local government in our area.
Both Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council are set to be replaced by a single authority, but there are differing views as to the size of the area the new council should cover.
Oxfordshire County Council is proposing a county wide model. Cherwell District Council is suggesting an authority including the existing Cherwell, West Oxfordshire and Oxford City areas. A third proposal, supported by the city council, proposes an authority for an enlarged Oxford area with our part of the county covered by an authority for the remaining northern half of the county.
A number of areas of our lives will be affected by the decision. For example, where new houses are built could be one ramification of the decision, with the new authority taking on a target for its area. Both the options proposed by our existing councils might see a continuation of the current situation with our area having to take extra housing in lieu of what can’t be built in Oxford.
Presently Oxfordshire County Council oversees areas such as highways, social care and education. They believe a single countywide authority would bring all services under one roof, simplify and improve services through better coordination and save £63 million every year.
Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We will reduce duplication, protect our critical services and have the scale to focus and invest in prevention and early help, tackling inequalities and homelessness.
“By bringing together all the levers of local government into a single, resilient authority, we can unlock the full potential of our people and places, drive innovation and deliver the high quality services our communities deserve.”
Cherwell District Council currently oversees areas such as planning, waste collection and social housing. It believes its proposal will delivering better services, potential savings of £59.8m annually and boost both rural and urban economies. They feel the countywide model is too large and the proposal which includes a separate council for an expanded Oxford city would not be financially sustainable and would negatively impact Oxford and damage the green belt.
Councillor David Hingley, Leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “After carefully examining all three options, it is clear to me that the two-unitary model offers the best future for our communities. It delivers stronger services, long-term financial stability, real value for money, and the right balance between scale and local accountability. It creates councils that are big enough to be efficient but local enough to stay closely connected to the people and businesses they serve.”
Oxford City Council believes its proposal recognises that the city and rural Oxfordshire are very different, with different demographics, cultures, needs and challenges. Their option is the only proposal that separates urban Oxford from rural Oxfordshire.
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, said: “With 3 Councils, local services would be better tailored to meet local needs, residents would have a stronger voice, and local businesses would have more focused support – whether that’s medical research in Oxford or farming in rural Oxfordshire.
“3 Councils is the only proposal that would deliver much-needed affordable homes where they are wanted, in Greater Oxford. This would enable people to afford to live near their friends, family and workplace, while also protecting rural Oxfordshire from overdevelopment.”
Ultimately the government will decide which idea will move forward, with an announcement expected in July.
The public consultation seeking our views runs until March 26.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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