Decision details

To ask officers to work with partners and stakeholders to develop a solution for local government structures in Oxfordshire which meets the key criteria of saving money, supporting economic growth, protecting the vulnerable, strengthening leadership and accountability, and empowering local communities.

Recommendations as set out below agreed:

Cabinet isRECOMMENDED to:

(a)  Consider the evidence set out in the PwC and GT reports, and the opportunity both reports present to save £100m over five years by moving to a single unitary for Oxfordshire, and the need for local structures within that;

(b)  Having regard to the recommendations of Performance Scrutiny, ask officers to work with stakeholders, including the public, to develop proposals for a single Oxfordshire unitary council, and in particular further explore the proposal set out in the Grant Thornton report known as option 6, whereby local areas within the county could make decisions for their own area, within an overall budget and policy framework set at the strategic level.