Purpose

To agree interim proposals for submission to
government and tasks linked to preparations for an effective
transfer.

Decision

RESOLVED: 
That
Cabinet:  

Notes that since the
statutory invitation to all councils in two tier areas, significant
early work has been undertaken by all Oxfordshire Councils and that
South/Vale officers have engaged with officers across Oxfordshire
and are also working separately with officers from West
Berkshire. 

 

Notes and supports
the submission of an interim proposal for a two unitary model based
on one new unitary council covering the entire existing boundaries
of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils and
West Berkshire Council, with the working title of
“Ridgeway” and a second new unitary covering the entire
existing boundaries of Cherwell and West Oxfordshire District
Councils and Oxford City Council. 

 

Notes that at least
two other interim proposals will likely be submitted, one proposed
by Oxfordshire County Council and one from Oxford City
Council.  

 

Notes officers
understand that at its meeting on 20 March, Oxfordshire County
Council Cabinet will consider whether to submit a single
overarching ‘interim plan’, including the
‘wrapper’ as Appendix B and the narrative proposals
contained as Appendix C, Appendix D and Appendix E, or a
combination of one or more of these. 

 

Notes that should
Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet not include the narrative
proposal which is Appendix C within the overall interim plan, South
Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse will submit this directly to
Government in line with the invitation letter. 

 

Agrees to a virement
of up to £100,000 from the 2025/26 revenue contingency
budget, if required, to fund anticipated costs associated with the
next stages of the process. 

Recognises that the
‘decision making’ authority for Oxfordshire on the
geography of any Strategic Authority is Oxfordshire County Council
and that as it would be beneficial for the strategic authority
involving our area to commence alongside unitarisation, therefore
asks Oxfordshire County Council to move forward as quickly as
possible with this. 

 

To support the above,
calls on Oxfordshire County Council to make clear that its
preferred Strategic Authority geography is Oxfordshire, Berkshire
and Buckinghamshire, noting that this will require Buckinghamshire
to wish to engage with Oxfordshire and the Berkshire
authorities. 

 

Asks the Leader and
Chief Executive to ensure the above positions are reflected in any
and all engagement with partners and Government on related
matters.