Review of local government structures in Oxfordshire |
Welcome
Grant Thornton has been commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council to consider options for future models of local government across Oxfordshire. The purpose of this survey is to give everybody the opportunity to inform this work.
About local government in Oxfordshire
The population of Oxfordshire is about 670,000 people. Oxfordshire’s local government structure is currently a “shire county and districts” model, with a county council covering the whole county, and five districts: Oxford City, Cherwell District, West Oxfordshire District, South Oxfordshire District, and Vale of White Horse District. Much of Oxfordshire also has a pattern of town or parish councils at the very local level.
The county council provides approximately 80% of local government services by financial value, and as a result has had to make significant savings in recent years. The main services provided by the two tiers of local government are below. For more information on Oxfordshire County Council funding and budgets, visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/budget
County council responsibilities:
About local government in Oxfordshire
The population of Oxfordshire is about 670,000 people. Oxfordshire’s local government structure is currently a “shire county and districts” model, with a county council covering the whole county, and five districts: Oxford City, Cherwell District, West Oxfordshire District, South Oxfordshire District, and Vale of White Horse District. Much of Oxfordshire also has a pattern of town or parish councils at the very local level.
The county council provides approximately 80% of local government services by financial value, and as a result has had to make significant savings in recent years. The main services provided by the two tiers of local government are below. For more information on Oxfordshire County Council funding and budgets, visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/budget
County council responsibilities:
- Adult social care
- Children’s services
- Highways and transport planning
- Fire and rescue service
- Education (support to schools, school admissions and school transport)
- Libraries
- Waste management
- Public health
- Trading Standards
District council responsibilities
- Leisure
- Waste collection
- Housing and Planning
- Environmental health
- Collecting Council Tax
- Street cleaning
- Benefits payments
- Homelessness support
- Voter registration
The Options
The options under consideration are as follows:
Option 1: Four new unitary authorities covering the areas of:
- Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils
- Oxford City Council
- West Oxfordshire District Council
- Cherwell District Council
Option 2: Three new unitary authorities covering the areas of;
- Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils
- Oxford City Council
- Cherwell District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council
Option 3: Two new unitary authorities including:
- An Oxford City Unitary Council based on expanding the existing boundaries of Oxford City
- A unitary authority covering the remaining area of Oxfordshire outside the City Unitary
Option 4: a single new unitary authority covering the current administrative area of Oxfordshire.
Option 5: No change to the existing county and district arrangements.
Option 5: No change to the existing county and district arrangements.
With these options in mind please respond to questions on the following pages.
If you experience difficulties in using this survey please contact us at oxfordshire.evidence@uk.gt.com. All views will be carefully considered but unfortunately we are unable to enter into correspondence with regard to individual responses.
If you experience difficulties in using this survey please contact us at oxfordshire.evidence@uk.gt.com. All views will be carefully considered but unfortunately we are unable to enter into correspondence with regard to individual responses.
The survey will be available until 17:30 on Friday 8th July.