Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council have submitted a joint proposal to the government to become a new single unitary authority for Oxfordshire.
Planning Portal writes:
The councils said the submission, A new council for a better Oxfordshire, combines the best ideas and feedback from local councils, residents, businesses, partners and the wider Oxfordshire community. It makes the case for replacing the existing two-tier structure of six councils with one single council for the county. This single authority would be responsible for delivering all local services across the county, enabling it to make ‘substantial savings’ and ‘improving outcomes for residents’.
Savings could amount to at least £100 million over five years, says the submission. Services such as planning and infrastructure would have a countywide approach while local issues would remain in the control of local people, states the document. It says 15 to 20 executive area boards would be set up to support the authority. These would comprise councillors representing the area, public service partners and representatives of towns and parishes.
