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Leader sees “no reason” to change the structure of councils
06/04/2022
Whilst West Northamptonshire has one unitary authority, Oxfordshire remains two tier
by Andy Mitchell, Local Democracy Reporter
The leader of Oxfordshire County Council “can see no reason at the moment for changing” the way the region’s local authorities work.
How best to operate public services in Oxfordshire is an age-old debate with some advocating a unitary system – one big council that delivers all of the services.
The current set-up is known as two-tier with the county at the top looking after things like education, transport, social care and children’s services, while Oxford City Council and the four districts – Cherwell, West Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse – manage planning applications, rubbish and recycling, housing and the collection of council tax.
Part of the national government’s levelling up plan involves more power for areas to decide their own fate and how funds get spent.
It opens up the prospect of regions that want them having mayors or forming combined authorities – councils that remain as separate bodies but take collective decisions that cross their boundaries – opening up the debate once again on the best way forward for Oxfordshire.
Among the arguments for a unitary authority are potential cost savings and certainty for the public over the body responsible for council services but there are concerns that rural areas could get left behind, while there is the complication of the rich mix of parties currently in power at various councils.
Councillor Eddie Reeves (Con, Banbury Calthorpe), leader of the opposition at Oxfordshire County Council, pressed leader Councillor Liz Leffman (Lib Dem, Charlbury & Wychwood) for her view at Tuesday’s meeting for all county councillors.
Cllr Reeves followed up his submitted question by asking: “I am simply wondering what the leader’s personal preference is. Does she want the status quo, a combined authority, a unitary with a mayor or a unitary without a mayor? Which is it?”
Cllr Leffman replied: “I don’t think it is for me to state a personal preference.
“This is a matter for the county as a whole. That includes our partners in the districts and in the city.
“If we are going to have a discussion about how we might potentially alter the way this county is run that has to be agreed collectively, it cannot be something that I decide as leader of this council.
“Personally, I think the way we work together across the county is very effective. We saw how it worked throughout Covid, the Future Oxfordshire Partnership works very well together and we have a good relationship between the various councils. I can see no reason at the moment for changing that.
“Were we asked to do so by the government, we would have to consider ways of doing things differently but at the moment I see no need to do that.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam