Five Councils outline how a two-unitary proposal would reimagine council service delivery

Council leaders have set out how the proposal to replace seven councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire with two, streamlined, more cost-effective unitary councils is the only option on the table that puts service-improvement at its heart, while retaining a clear local focus in each area.

Under the two-unitary proposal, services including highways maintenance, adult social care, children's services, waste collection, planning, housing and environmental health would all be delivered by one unitary council in each area, tailored to the needs of local communities. This simplified model is expected to deliver significant improvements for residents and service users.

Highways and infrastructure

The proposal puts forward that bringing highways maintenance, transport planning and local development responsibilities together under a single unitary council for each area could allow for a more proactive approach to transport networks.

Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said:

"Highways maintenance and transport infrastructure are critical to our communities and local economy; we were told that when we engaged with communities across the district, and we are hearing it loud and clear.

"Under the two-unitary proposal, decisions about road maintenance, new developments and transport improvements would sit within councils that aren't too big and will be able to really focus on the needs of each area. 

"Smaller two-unitary councils can take this opportunity to rethink the approach to the service. They will operate over a much more manageable area and, with more local teams will be able to respond quickly to defects, paying equal attention to our rural and urban roads. 

"We would have more influence to plan for infrastructure and improvements across the entire county, tackling the challenges faced by Oxford and improving the stretched networks in rural areas."

West Berkshire has recently been awarded a 'Green' rating in a new national assessment by the Department for Transport (DfT) - placing it amongst the top-performing councils in the country for its road management. It's a good example of how the councils coming together will be able to learn from each other and help improve services across the board.

Adult Social Care and Children's Services

Adult Social Care and Children's Services are the largest and most financially significant services delivered by upper-tier councils. The proposed changes would see the two councils take a more local approach to social care, which evidence suggests could deliver better and more efficient services.

Cllr Jeff Brooks, Leader of West Berkshire Council, said:

"Adult Social Care and Children's Services are central to supporting some of our most vulnerable residents. A two-unitary structure would protect what works well in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, while also looking to improve it based on best practice from across the country, which shows smaller councils are better able to deliver these services in many cases.

"The councils would bring together social care, housing and community services in a single organisation within each area, which could strengthen partnership working and simplify access for residents. They would also deliver over a sensible geography, meaning they understand the needs of their communities and can tailor services."

The proposal also emphasises that any transition would prioritise continuity of care and protect these vital services during any change, as has been done in other areas where existing county council services have been split over recent years.

Planning 

Another key area residents said needed improvement was planning for the future and ensuring infrastructure is delivered alongside the right housing for local people.

Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said:

"Having two councils of the right size will enable us to focus on local planning, which only works well when councils understand their communities. At the same time, being large enough, they can also tackle important strategic infrastructure issues, like transport improvements, sewage, healthcare, schools and other local facilities. 

"In Ridgeway, planning could focus on exploiting the links with the M4 corridor and West Berkshire's booming economy while also planning effectively for a largely rural community. The Oxford and Shires Council will be able to deliver the right housing in the right places for both urban and rural communities, growing the economy and improving infrastructure to benefit the whole area."

Wider service integration and improvement

Supporters of the proposal argue that combining district and county functions could reduce duplication between tiers and provide residents with a single point of accountability for local services in each area.

Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said:

"Residents often tell us they want clarity about who is responsible for local services. A two-unitary council model, like the other proposals, would bring services together within one organisation per area, making accountability clearer. This is about balance, these councils will be big enough to deliver the change while staying small enough to understand their communities."

Councillor David Hingley, Leader of Cherwell District Council, added:

"This ambitious proposal will create two manageable councils poised from day one to deliver excellent services proactively supporting their residents.  It provides many opportunities for service improvement, such as making leisure services accessible across a wider area, a more joined-up approach to flood prevention, and more integrated business support in aid of the local economy.  

"Getting the scale of the new unitary authorities right is crucial. These two councils would be large enough to deliver meaningful improvements, while still being rooted in the communities they serve and keeping the 'local' in local government."

Further information about the two-unitary proposal, the other two proposals, and next steps in the Local Government Reform process is available at www.twocouncils.org.