Council seeks to defend Healthwatch and strengthen fairer decision making at busy May meeting
Published 26 May 2026
At a busy Full Council meeting this month, South Oxfordshire District Council passed motions to defend an independent health body and voluntarily adopt the socio-economic duty in their strategic decision-making process.
At the Annual Meeting on 14 May 2026, South Oxfordshire councillors defended the independence of Healthwatch, who are independent organisations that provide an accessible, impartial route for residents to raise concerns and share experiences of health and social care services. They also encouraged their cabinet to formally embed the socio-economic duty in the council’s strategies.
The two motions that were discussed included:
Scrutiny of Government’s decision to abolish Healthwatch
Image of Cllr Georgina Heritage
Cllr Georgina Heritage raised the issue to oppose the government decision to abolish Healthwatch, that was seconded by Cllr Katharine Keats-Rohan.
The Government has proposed the abolition of these bodies as part of its developing NHS 10-Year Health Plan, with functions to be transferred to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and local authorities.
Amongst other concerns, councillors believed this move risked undermining consistency and democratic accountability across the health and care system. It would reduce patient rights – and weaken the ability of residents to influence decisions affecting their health and wellbeing.
They have resolved to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care setting out these concerns, alongside the Leader of the Council communicating this position to all relevant partners.
Cllr Heritage, the lead member with responsibility for Communities and local ward member for Haseley Brook, said: “Healthwatch is a nationally recognised, independent statutory body to represent patients – removing it weakens the ability of ordinary people to influence decisions affecting their health and wellbeing, particularly those least able to advocate for themselves.”
Socio-economic duty ensures no one is left behind in strategic decisions
Image of Cllr David Rouane
Following a motion put forward by Cllr David Rouane, seconded by Cllr Robin Bennett, councillors agreed to ask their cabinet to take further action towards the council’s socio-economic duty. This voluntary action would legally bind the council to consider how their strategic decision-making impacted lower income households.
South Oxfordshire District Council already takes great care to consider how their decisions impact people on lower incomes or facing disadvantage, such as health, wellbeing or education inequality. Their decision to ensure the socio-economic duty is at the foreground of their decision-making process will ensure that the current and future administrations understand how services, cost of living support, housing and access to opportunities better reflect the needs of residents facing financial hardship or wider disadvantage.
Cllr Rouane, who is a ward councillor for Didcot North East, said: “Socio-economic disadvantage can shape every aspect of a person’s life — from their health and education to their employment opportunities. While Oxfordshire is ranked among the least deprived counties in the country, there are still communities across the district facing significant challenges that we must not ignore if we are serious about improving life chances for all residents.
“The decisions made by the council have the power either to reduce inequality or to deepen it. That is why every decision should be guided by a clear understanding of its impact on people experiencing disadvantage, with action taken wherever necessary to minimise harmful effects.”
The full details of the meeting and motions is available on the council’s website.
