Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2026/063

Non-key decision

Contact: Lauren Rushen, Senior Policy Officer

Lauren.rushen@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by the Deputy Chief Executive (Section 151 Officer) (CA8)

To consider the Council's draft response to the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) consultation on local government reorganisation in Oxfordshire.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)           approve the submission of three consultation responses (Annex 1, 2 and 3) to the Ministry for Housing Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG)’s consultation on local government reorganisation (LGR) in Oxfordshire as requested by the Minister of State for Local Government’s letter on 5 February 2026.

(b)           Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and S151 Officer in consultation with the Leader to make any changes to the text/and or formatting of the submissions prior to submission to government whilst not materially affecting the overall content of the responses

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before a report regarding the Council’s draft responses to the Government statutory consultation on three proposals for local government reorganisation in Oxfordshire. These were, a single council for all Oxfordshire, two councils including West Berkshire, and three councils also including West Berkshire.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of the Council, presented the report. Councillor Leffman referred to the Council’s preferred option for a single unitary authority for the whole of Oxfordshire.

Councillor Leffman moved and Councillor Gant seconded the recommendations and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

(a)           approve the submission of three consultation responses (Annex 1, 2 and 3) to the Ministry for Housing Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG)’s consultation on local government reorganisation (LGR) in Oxfordshire as requested by the Minister of State for Local Government’s letter on 5 February 2026.

(b)           Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and S151 Officer in consultation with the Leader to make any changes to the text/and or formatting of the submissions prior to submission to government whilst not materially affecting the overall content of the responses