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Residents urged to respond to government consultation on once-in-a-generation opportunity to change local councils

The government has launched a consultation on options to reorganise local councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.

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Two Councils. One better future.

February 26, 2026

Five Councils outline how a two-unitary proposal would reimagine council service delivery across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire

Published Thursday 26 February 2026 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 […]

Decorative montage of landscape images

February 10, 2026

Joint Local Plan procedural meeting 12 February 2026

A Procedural Meeting for the Joint Local Plan will be held on Thursday 12 February 2026 in Meeting Room 1 of Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon, OX14 3JE, between 12- 2pm.

Light playing on water

January 13, 2026

Council submits response to Thames Water reservoir consultation

Vale of White Horse District Council has today (13 January 2026) submitted its consultation response on Thames Water’s proposed reservoir for the district.

Photo shows representatives from Better alongside Cabinet members from South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils and GLL Sport Foundation athletes. 

January 6, 2026

Councils secure a high-quality and sustainable future for leisure facilities in uncertain times

Local residents can look forward to high-quality, sustainable leisure services for at least the next three years after their councils struck a deal for a contract extension.

Image showing a map of Oxfordshire and Berkshire as part of a mayoral strategic authority.

December 19, 2025

Thames Valley devolution expression of interest submitted to government

An expression of interest letter to create a mayoral strategic authority (MSA) within the Thames Valley has been submitted to government following discussions and agreement by 13 councils within the region.

Image showing a map of Oxfordshire and Berkshire as part of a mayoral strategic authority.

December 4, 2025

A call for Oxfordshire and Berkshire to be in the next wave of Strategic Authorities

The Cabinets at South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have supported the submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) to government for a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) in the Thames Valley region. Councillor David Rouane, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said:“Oxfordshire and Berkshire together make sense for a strategic authority. These […]

vale of white horse district council logo

December 2, 2025

Statement: Thames Valley CCTV Partnership 

On Friday 28 November the Police and Crime Commissioner briefed the press to claim four Oxfordshire councils had refused funds for CCTV, even though all of them remained in ongoing conversations about the plans.

Light playing on water

October 28, 2025

Concerns on the spiralling costs of South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) expressed at October Council meeting

Significant public concerns around Thames Water’s South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) and the spiralling costs now associated with the proposed development, were raised at Vale of White Horse District Council’s meeting on Wednesday 22 October.

Montage of locations around Oxfordshire

October 27, 2025

Councils set to discuss future shape of Oxfordshire and West Berkshire’s local government

Published on Monday 27 October 2025 Councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire are set to submit proposals on the shape of future local government reorganisation across the area. In late 2024 a request was made by government to all remaining two-tier areas across England (county and city/district councils) to submit an interim proposal(s) for a […]

Decorative montage of landscape images

October 8, 2025

Councils to take positive steps to represent communities despite concerns with Inspectors’ Local Plan decision

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have written an open letter in which they have stated the Planning Inspectors’ conclusions on their Joint Local Plan were unwarranted and lacking coherent explanation.