Agenda and minutes

To receive any announcements from the chair. 

The chair welcomed all the meeting.

To record apologies for absence. 

Apologies were noted for Councillors Helen Pighills and Neil Fawcett. Councillors Andy Crawford, Andy Foulsham and Sue Caul were present online.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 7 March 2025. 

Resolved:

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2025 were agreed as a correct record, and the chair would sign them as such.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other registrable interests and non-registrable interests or any conflicts of interest in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.

Councillor Thomas declared that she was a member of Oxfordshire County Council. Although noted, it was confirmed that this had no impact on participation in the meeting.

To receive notification of any matters which the chair determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent.

None

To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak. 

Two members registered to speak on the agenda item for Interim proposals and preparations for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Councillor Sarah James (Leader of the Green Group) addressed the Cabinet. She asked for consideration to be given to scrutiny in this process.

Councillor Katherine Foxhall (Ward member for Watchfield and Shrivenham) addressed the Cabinet to highlight the need to keep access to health services fluid, explaining that her residents in the West of the district needed to access health services from various areas.

Both speakers were thanked for their contributions, which would be considered during the agenda item.

To consider a report from the Chief Executive (report to follow)

Councillor Bethia Thomas introduced the report. Also present was the Chief Executive, who was author of the report.

Councillor Thomas explained that a lot of work had been carried out to produce this proposal, with a tight deadline given from government to submit proposals, and she thanked those involved in this work.

Councillor Thomas welcomed comments from the Cabinet on the proposal. The Cabinet showed support for the proposal, commending the work completed so far in order to meet the deadline. It was considered that the two-unitary Ridgeway council and Oxfordshire council proposal was the preferred approach, with agreement that the Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) Oxfordshire-wide unitary proposal was a viable option. Officers would continue to engage with other local authorities on the proposed options.

The Council Leader would speak to OCC Cabinet on 20 March 2025 to give the views of Vale of White Horse District Council on the strategic authority geography. Submissions to the Secretary of State are due on 21 March 2025.

The members of Cabinet present voted in favour of supporting the following recommendations:

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 131.