Five councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire have joined forces to put forward a proposal for two new unitary councils, as part of a major shake-up of local government.
The move comes in response to government plans to replace the current two-tier system of district and county councils across England with streamlined, single-tier structures. In addition, the government is encouraging smaller existing unitary councils – such as West Berkshire – to reorganise to serve populations of around 500,000 people.
Councils have been asked to collaborate on how best to shape these new arrangements to deliver high-quality, cost-effective, and locally responsive services. In a proactive move, the majority of Oxfordshire’s local authorities have teamed up with West Berkshire to develop a joint proposal they believe meets national criteria while providing a strong foundation for local accountability and service delivery.
The plan would see the formation of two new councils with the working titles Oxford and Shires Council and Ridgeway Council:
- Oxford and Shires Council would bring together the current areas of Cherwell, Oxford City, and West Oxfordshire.
- Ridgeway Council would serve all of West Berkshire as well as South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.
Though new in name and governance, the proposed councils would ensure continuity in key services. Crucially, existing social care arrangements currently delivered by Oxfordshire County Council and West Berkshire Council would remain intact – avoiding the disruption and expense associated with splitting up such services, a concern the government has highlighted.
Proponents say the two-council model hits the sweet spot: large enough to be financially sustainable and meet government size requirements, yet small enough to maintain a close connection with the local communities they serve.
The proposal also aims to unlock economic potential across the region by strengthening ties with business, supporting both urban and rural areas, and tackling long-standing local challenges. These include delivering the right homes in the right places, upgrading infrastructure, protecting the environment, and addressing issues such as flooding and sewage pollution.
The councils behind the proposal promise the new authorities would be “forward-looking, innovative and modern,” while keeping community identity and historical links at their core.
A public engagement campaign runs from 04 June to 16 July, inviting residents to share their views on the proposed changes.
To take part, visit twocouncils.org and complete the online survey. A series of local engagement events will also take place across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, with details available on the same website. Stakeholder meetings are also set to begin, providing further opportunities for feedback.
Residents, businesses, and community groups are encouraged to get involved and help shape the future of local government in their area.
Councillor David Hingley, Leader of Cherwell District Council, said:
“As partner councils, we’re determined to seize this opportunity to shape the future of local government for the benefit of our communities. Our proposal for two new unitary councils will create authorities that are locally responsive and designed around what our places truly need. They will be answerable to their residents and underpinned by sound finances, positioning them to serve and empower future generations.
“For Cherwell, this means building on our past successes and strong community relations to create a council that reflects local identities and priorities for the years ahead. To get this right, we want as many people in our district as possible to take part in this initial engagement exercise so they can influence our final proposals for the future of local government.”
Councillor David Rouane, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said:
“When change is happening, it’s important for everyone to have a voice, which is why we’re inviting everyone to get in touch and let us know what’s important to them – this will help us develop our proposal based on real people’s experiences.
“We’ve led the way in South Oxfordshire at providing innovative, high-performing and cost-effective services and we feel strongly that we should put that experience towards creating new councils that that really work for their communities, are local enough to be accountable and remain financially stable”
Councillor Bethia Thomas, Leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council, said:
“This is a once in a generation opportunity – change is coming to the way councils work and so we can’t let it pass without doing everything we can to make sure those changes work for our communities. The two councils we’re proposing aim to build councils that deliver high-quality services that are based on the needs of local people.
“We believe that means basing the councils on existing communities and a shared history and sense of identity while also being forward-thinking and innovative. Residents, businesses and organisations in the Vale now have a chance to let us know what’s most important so we can develop a proposal that works for them.”
Councillor Jeff Brooks, Leader of West Berkshire Council, said:
“It’s important that we deliver the best option for our residents and there is a compelling case to be made for joining with our neighbours to the north. Whilst we think the argument for a new Ridgeway Council is a strong one – a council which is big enough to cope but small enough to care. It’s important to us that we understand what our communities think and I hope residents will look at what we are proposing and have their say.”
Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said:
“We are clear that residents need to come first in any discussions around future options for local government. We want residents, businesses and other organisations to help us shape this proposal so it truly reflects our communities, both now and in the future.
“This engagement will give people a direct route to influence this proposal and the shape of local government in future. We want to build on the obvious benefits of a two-unitary option to create something that is new, forward thinking and makes the most of this change in approach to deliver more for local people while protecting the services they currently value.”
Details of the engagement events:
| Date | Venue | Time |
| Friday 13 June | Coffee Aroma. 15 Hight Street, Abingdon, OX14 5BB | 1.30pm – 4.30pm |
| Tuesday 17 June | Berro Lounge, Orchard Shopping Centre, 44 Orchard Street, Didcot, OX11 7LG | 10.30am – 1.30pm |
| Wednesday 18 June | Beansheaf Community Centre, Charrington Road, Calcot, RG31 7AW | 11.00am – 3.00pm |
| Thursday 19 June | Newbury Library, The Wharf, Newbury, RG14 5AU | 11.00am – 3.00pm |
| Thursday 19 June | St Mary-le-More Church, Market Place, Wallingford, OX10 0EG | 1.30pm – 4.30pm |
| Monday 23 June | War Memorial Hall, Market Street, Charlbury, OX7 3QW | 3.00pm – 7.00pm |
| Monday 23 June | Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington, OX5 1AB | 3.00pm – 7.00pm |
| Tuesday 24 June | John Paul II Centre, The Causeway, Bicester, OX26 6AW | 3.00pm – 7.00pm |
| Wednesday 25 June | Hungerford Library, 2 Church Street, Hungerford, RG17 0JG | 11.00am – 2.00pm |
| Wednesday 25 June | The Beacon, Portway, Wantage, OX12 9BX | 1.00pm – 4.00pm |
| Friday 27 June | Old Crown Coach Inn, 25 Market Place, Faringdon, SN7 7HU | 10.30am – 1.30pm |
| Friday 27 June | Old Headington Village Hall, Dunstand Road, Oxford, OX3 9BY | 3.00pm – 7.00pm |
| Saturday 28 June | Northbrook Street, Newbury | 11.30am – 2.30pm |
| Monday 30 June | Jericho Community Centre, 33A Canal Street, Oxford, OX2 6BQ | 3.00pm – 7.00pm |
| Tuesday 1 July | Henley-on-Thames Town Hall, Market Place, Henley, RG9 2AQ | 2.30pm – 5.30pm |
| Wednesday 2 July | Florence Park Community Centre, Cornwallis Road, Oxford, OX4 3NH | 3.00pm – 7.00pm |
| Friday 4 July | Thame Town Hall, Hight Street, Thame, OX9 3DP | 10.30am – 1.30pm |
| Monday 7 July | Banbury Town Hall, Bridge Street, Banbury OX16 5QB | 3.00pm – 7.00pm |
| Tuesday 8 July | Bampton Village Hall, Market Square, OX18 2JH | 3.00pm – 7.00pm |
| Thursday 10 July | Unit 14a, Marriotts Walk, Witney, OX28 6GW | 3.00pm – 7.00pm |
Editorial notes:
The councils in Oxfordshire submitted an interim proposal to government in March setting out the three options that would be developed into full proposals. The engagement sessions listed above are linked to the two unitary councils proposal. The other proposals will be carrying out their own engagement to meet government criteria.
