Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/202

Contact:  Kim Sawyer, Programme Director – Devolution

Kim.sawyer@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)    Endorse the significant benefits from the proposed devolution of powers and functions and agree to continue building on the collaborative approach across the region to date.

b)    Approve the Expression of Interest (EOI), attached as Appendix 1, to be submitted by Oxfordshire County Council as the upper-tier authority to Government, noting that the EOI is designed to proactively position our region for early consideration in the next wave of the Devolution Programme.

c)    Acknowledge the EOI as an initial invitation to Government, opening further dialogue and engagement, and not a decision to establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority.

d)    Agree that a further report will be brought to Cabinet prior to any final decision by Government on the creation of a Mayoral Strategic Authority.

e)    Note the informal Devolution Board will oversee discussions with Government, ensuring robust governance and stakeholder engagement by elected members throughout this process.

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report which outlined Oxfordshire County Council’s proposal to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for devolution, aiming to establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) to drive regional economic growth and collaboration.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of the Council, presented the report.

During discussion, members referred to the process and rationale for submitting an expression of interest for devolution, with the proposal being signed by the leaders of Oxfordshire County Council and Bracknell Forest, representing the councils in Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

Members emphasised the importance of clarifying which councils were involved in the devolution process, and highlighted the need for clear communication to ensure certainty around the process.

Members noted that the submission was proactive, not prompted by government request, and aimed to align the region with the timeline of other devolution proposals, despite recent postponement of mayoral elections to 2028.

Members also noted the establishment of an informal devolution board, the involvement of council leaders, and the commitment to robust governance and stakeholder engagement throughout the devolution process. There was a need to align economic development with the green agenda, address geographical and organisational complexities, and continue engaging with neighbouring councils such as Buckinghamshire.

Members acknowledged that the current proposal may evolve due to factors such as the abolition of police and crime commissioners and NHS reorganisation, indicating the process is subject to ongoing change.

Cabinet noted that the proposal had already been discussed at length in the previous Council meeting, where it received clear cross-party support, and that the cabinet's role was to build on this consensus.

RESOLVED to:-

a)    Endorse the significant benefits from the proposed devolution of powers and functions and agree to continue building on the collaborative approach across the region to date.

b)    Approve the Expression of Interest (EOI), attached as Appendix 1, to be submitted by Oxfordshire County Council as the upper-tier authority to Government, noting that the EOI is designed to proactively position our region for early consideration in the next wave of the Devolution Programme.

c)    Acknowledge the EOI as an initial invitation to Government, opening further dialogue and engagement, and not a decision to establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority.

d)    Agree that a further report will be brought to Cabinet prior to any final decision by Government on the creation of a Mayoral Strategic Authority.

e)    Note the informal Devolution Board will oversee discussions with Government, ensuring robust governance and stakeholder engagement by elected members throughout this process.