The government has launched a consultation on options to reorganise local councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.
Local Government Reorganisation is a government-led reform to change how councils in two-tier areas are structured, replacing county and district councils with single unitary structures responsible for local services.
The consultation asks residents for their views on each of the three proposals put forward for Oxfordshire:
1. Oxfordshire County Council has proposed 1 unitary council. This would comprise the current areas of:
- Oxfordshire: Cherwell, Oxford City, Oxfordshire County, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, and West Oxfordshire.
2. Cherwell District Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council have proposed 2 unitary councils: These would comprise the current areas of:
- Oxford and Shires Council: Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire.
- Ridgeway Council: South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, plus West Berkshire (outside of invitation area).
3. Oxford City Council has proposed 3 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of:
- Greater Oxford Council: Oxford City (includes boundary change)
- Northern Oxfordshire Council: Most of Cherwell and West Oxfordshire
- Ridgeway Council: South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, plus West Berkshire (outside of invitation area).
The consultation will inform the government’s decision later in the year on which proposal to implement. The change in council structures provides an opportunity to transform how councils work to deliver services, drive economic growth and support local communities.
More details about the proposals and the opportunity to share your views are on the government website.
The consultation closes 26th March 2026