People have been asked for their opinions on whether two districts would become part of a West Berkshire local authority or remain part of Oxfordshire.
The government announced plans for a major restructuring of local government in last month’s devolution white paper, including plans to abolish district councils and introduce larger unitary authorities in areas that do not have them already.
While the government is aiming to simplify local government with these reforms, some councillors have accused the process of being rushed, and have expressed concerns that residents’ local interests will not be best served by larger authorities.
The Vale of White Horse District Council used to be part of Berkshire before local government was reorganised in the 1970s, but most of the south Oxfordshire district has always been part of Oxfordshire.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Matthew Barber, who used to be leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, asked residents to send him their views on whether these districts should become part of West Berkshire or remain in Oxfordshire.
If South and Vale councils were to join West Berkshire to form a new council, the population would still fall short of the government’s 500,000 minimum target.
Read more: Oxford City Council Leader responds to Government’s devolution white paper
In an informal survey that Mr Barber, 75 per cent of respondents said there should be one council for Oxfordshire, while 25 per cent said that south Oxfordshire’s towns should join a Berkshire council.
Katherine Foxhall, Green councillor on Vale of White Horse District Council, said the process so far had been “rushed and chaotic”, and that a unitary authority for the whole of Oxfordshire “risks being too large and too remote” for those who would rely on their services.
She added: “Whatever decisions are made about the shape of our local councils the process must be transparent, well thought out and invite real public scrutiny.
“So far, the process has been chaotic and rushed, and quick decisions are being forced without the information needed to make good decisions for our residents.
“Decisions about people’s lives are best made as close as possible to the people most impacted.
“Communities should be trusted to know what is best for them and they should be supported with the powers and the investment to deliver real change.
“Any will among local leaders to ‘move fast’ must be balanced with a real effort to keep local accountability and representation, and make sure that local decision making, for example around planning and climate action, remains with the local people affected.
“Perhaps our elected police and crime commissioner could usefully contribute to these discussions by sharing what he believes the implications of these reforms are for policing?”
Ian Snowdon, Conservative councillor for South Oxfordshire District Council, said local authorities were “rushing through these huge changes” and missing the “golden opportunity” to create new boundaries.
He added: “My personal view is that as district councils are disappearing why should we use their old boundaries to create new authorities and instead use this opportunity to create new authorities with better geographical and demographic boundaries.
“Shrivenham for example has little in common with Chinnor in the same way Henley has little in common with Botley.
“So why not put the likes of Shrivenham in with Swindon and Botley in with Oxford and so on?
“Sadly, in my experience, politicians will put their own party’s best interest ahead of residents and look to create boundaries giving them the best chance of winning at elections instead of creating the best and most cohesive communities possible.”
