Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution

Local councils are changing. We currently have two tiers of local government in Oxfordshire: district and county councils – these will be replaced by new unitary councils that will provide all local government services.   

The government has confirmed that three new unitary councils will be created for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire from 1 April 2028.  

The new councils will replace the existing county, district and city councils, bringing local services together under three new organisations. This change is designed to simplify how services are delivered and make it easier for residents to access support.  

Find out which new council will serve your community and what this means for your area: 3councils.org 

Devolution and Strategic Authorities  

The work to create unitary councils is to help pave the way for new Strategic Authorities, which are larger authorities over an area of around 1.5 million people, usually led by an elected Mayor.   

In December 2025 an expression of interest letter to create a mayoral strategic authority (MSA) within the Thames Valley was submitted to government following discussions and agreement by 13 councils within the region. 

For further information visit www.reading.gov.uk/devolution.

LGR and Devolution formal correspondence

24 March 2025: Council leaders of West Berkshire Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council wrote a joint letter to minister Jim McMahon regarding the proposed Ridgeway Council. 

17 February 2025: Cllr Rouane wrote letters to MPs Olly Glover and Freddie Van Mierlo with an update on unitary discussions. 

19 December 2024: Cllr Rouane wrote to Cllr Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council on the subject of local government reorganisation. 

30 September 2024: All six Oxfordshire council leaders wrote an expression of interest letter on devolution in Oxfordshire to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.