Purpose

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

Decision

RESOLVED
That Cabinet:
 
(a) 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.
 
(b) 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.
 
(c) Notes that at least two
other interim proposals will likely be submitted, one
proposed by Oxfordshire County
Council and one from Oxford City Council.
 
(d) 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.
 
(e) 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.
 
(f) 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.
 
(g) 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.
 
(h) 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.
 
(i)
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.