Local government reorganisation – your voice needs to be heard

Right now, services across Oxfordshire are delivered by a mix of county, city and district councils, which can make it hard to know who does what.

Local government reorganisation (LGR) is the process the government is using to simplify this system, making it clearer, more efficient and easier for residents to access the services they need.

Oxfordshire is starting the process of going through local government reorganisation. Take a look at our blog explaining the process

Wherever you live in Oxfordshire, the outcome will be the same. There will be a single unitary council responsible for all local services in your area.

What varies is how many of these brand new councils the government may create to cover the county.

There are three proposals on the table: one unitary council for the whole of Oxfordshire, two unitary councils, or three smaller unitary councils. Take a look at our blog explaining those proposals.

The decision would replace the existing two‑tier system and bring all responsibilities together in each area. That would mean if two or three unitary councils are chosen, critical services like adult social care, children’s social care, public health, highways and other services currently covering the whole county would be duplicated because each authority would need their own.

We believe that one council for Oxfordshire makes sense. It is more cost effective, more efficient, easier for you to access and will have a stronger voice regionally and nationally.

We’ve put our cards on the table for One Oxfordshire – and the government now wants to hear what you think in its consultation, which runs until 26 March.