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Local Conservative group leader broadly welcomes devolution plan
17/12/2024
The White Paper has been billed as the “biggest transfer of power out of Westminster this century
The future of Cherwell District Council is uncertain following the government’s announcement of the biggest shake-up in local councils for half a century.
The English Devolution White Paper was launched yesterday afternoon. It outlines new structures which could see a new mayor for Oxfordshire and a single tier of local authority taking on the work of both Oxfordshire County and Cherwell District Councils.
Speaking before the full details of the White Paper were known, Eddie Reeves, the Leader of the Conservatives at both councils, broadly welcomed the move.
He said: “Councils in Oxfordshire still operate under the Local Government Act 1972. The system is the same today as when my grandfather retired as a Council officer in the late-1980s. That cannot be right.
“Councillors of all parties must put residents’ needs first. Simplifying local government is likely to make for a less expensive and more accountable Council.
“Having spent Sunday afternoon with residents in Hook Norton discussing local flooding concerns, many feel pulled from pillar to post navigating the intricacies of Parish, District and County Council competences. Again, that cannot be right, and it must now change.”
Billed as the “biggest transfer of power out of Westminster this century”, the White Paper sets out how the government plans to put the destiny of England’s regions in their own hands.
Councillor Reeves identified the model he believes would suit our area. He said: “Personally, I favour a single Council that is accountable to residents. That could mean a single Oxfordshire Council with or without a countywide Mayor or districts like my own in Cherwell merging with others to create smaller, single-tier rural authorities within a Mayoral combined authority that spas the NHS Integrated Care Board or the Thames Valley Police Force areas.
“In the latter case, that would mean a Mayor of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire, or a Thames Valley Mayor, who has a direct line to government, but who is ultimately answerable to the people.
“For my part, I have long been sceptical about Mayors, whether on a countywide or a regional footprint. However, most people would accept that Ben Houchen in the Tees Valley, Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester, and Andy Street in the West Midlands have done important work in marshalling public and private investment, and in coordinating Councils’ efforts to reform local public services.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam