Council Responses to Consultations
As a local authority, we often respond to other organisation’s consultations on matters that affect our district. We’ll publish our submissions on this page.
November 2025
Reforming the licensing system
HM Government sought views and evidence to help inform the development of a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system.
- HM Government’s consultation on reforming the licensing system.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s consultation on reforming the licensing system.
Transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan Consultation
The National Energy System Operator requested comments on the key components of the Transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan.
- The National Energy System Operator Transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to the National Energy System Operator Transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan consultation.
October 2025
Swindon Borough Council Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation
Swindon Borough Council invited comments on the development proposals contained within their new Local Plan.
- Swindon Borough Council’s Local Plan Regulation 18 consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to Swindon Borough Council’s Local Plan Regulation 18 consultation.
September 2025
Modernising and improving the administration of Council Tax
HM Government asked for views on policies to improve the administration of council tax.
- HM Government’s consultation on modernising and improving the administration of Council Tax.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s consultation on modernising and improving the administration of Council Tax.
Local Government Outcome Framework
HM Government sought feedback from local authorities on their plan to move towards an outcome focused model of accountability for councils in England.
- HM Government’s Local Government Outcome Framework consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Local Government Outcome Framework consultation
Wantage and Grove Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)
Oxfordshire County Council wanted interested parties to share their thoughts on cycling and walking infrastructure in Wantage and Grove.
- Oxfordshire County Council’s Wantage and Grove Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to the Wantage and Grove Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan consultation.
August 2025
Oxford City Council Local Plan 2042 Preferred Policy Options Consultation
Oxford City Council sought input from interested parties on their preferred policy options for their Local Plan 2042.
- Oxford City’s Local Plan 2042 Preferred Policy Options Consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to Oxford City’s Local Plan 2042 Preferred Policy Options Consultation.
West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2041 Preferred Policy Options Consultation
West Oxfordshire District Council sought input from interested parties on their preferred policy options for their Local Plan 2041.
- West Oxfordshire’s Local Plan 2041 Preferred Policy Options Consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to West Oxfordshire’s Local Plan 2041 Preferred Policy Options Consultation.
The Fair Funding Review 2.0
HM Government requested comments on their proposed approach to local authority funding reform.
- HM Government’s Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation.
Oxford Temporary Congestion Charge
Oxfordshire County Council sought views on the proposed Oxford temporary congestion charge for cars scheme.
- Oxfordshire County Council’s consultation on the Oxford Temporary Congestion Charge.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to Oxfordshire County Council’s consultation on the Oxford Temporary Congestion Charge.
July 2025
Flood and coastal erosion funding reform
HM Government requested views on their proposals for changing the way flood and coastal erosion projects are funded. They also called for evidence on alternative sources of funding and devolution opportunities.
- HM Government’s consultation on flood and coastal erosion funding reform.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s consultation on flood and coastal erosion funding reform.
Community Benefits and Shared Ownership for Low Carbon Energy Infrastructure: Working Paper
HM Government sought views on potential mandatory community benefits for low carbon energy infrastructure, and shared ownership schemes.
- HM Government’s Community Benefits and Shared Ownership for Low Carbon Energy Infrastructure: Working Paper.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Community Benefits and Shared Ownership for Low Carbon Energy Infrastructure: Working Paper.
Improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development
HM Government sought views on improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG) for minor, medium and brownfield development.
- HM Government’s consultation on improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG) for minor, medium and brownfield development.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s consultation on improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG) for minor, medium and brownfield development.
Reform of planning committees: technical consultation
HM Government requested feedback on their proposals around the delegation of planning functions, the size and composition of planning committees and mandatory training for members of planning committees.
- HM Government’s technical consultation on the reform of planning committees.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s technical consultation on the reform of planning committees.
Planning Reform Working Paper: Reforming Site Thresholds
HM Government asked for views on reforming site size thresholds in the planning system to better support housing delivery on different types of sites.
- HM Government’s Planning Reform Working Paper: Reforming Site Thresholds.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Planning Reform Working Paper: Reforming Site Thresholds.
Technical consultation on implementing measures to improve Build Out transparency
HM Government sought to gather views on the introduction of a new statutory build out framework.
- Technical consultation on implementing measures to improve Build Out transparency
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Technical consultation on implementing measures to improve Build Out transparency.
Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out
HM Government invited views on further action that should be taken to speed up homes being built.
- HM Government’s Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out.
May 2025
Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: 2025 update
HM Government sought views on proposals to raise minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes in England and Wales by 2030.
- HM Government’s consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes.
April 2025
North Wessex Downs National Landscape Management Plan Review
The North Wessex Downs National Landscape sought feedback and comments from stakeholders in relation to a draft revised management plan.
Land Use Consultation
HM Government sought views on their vision for land use in England and how to deliver it. The consultation will inform the development of a land use framework.
- HM Government’s Land Use Consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Land Use Consultation.
Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery
HM Government invited views on their proposed new approach to development and nature recovery.
- HM Government’s Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery.
March 2025
Funding arrangements for the Homelessness Prevention Grant from 2026/27 onwards
HM Government sought views on an updated formula for allocating the Homelessness Prevention Grant to local authorities.
- HM Government’s consultation on the funding arrangements for the Homelessness Prevention Grant from 2026/27 onwards.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s consultation on the funding arrangements for the Homelessness Prevention Grant from 2026/27 onwards.
- Funding arrangements for the Homelessness Prevention Grant from 2026-27 onwards: Consultation outcome.
February 2025
Local authority funding reform: objectives and principles
HM Government sought views on the approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities and fire and rescue authorities through the local government finance settlement.
- HM Government’s consultation on local authority funding reform: objectives and principles.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s consultation on local authority funding reform: objectives and principles.
- Local authority funding reform objectives and principles consultation: summary of responses.
Cowley Grid Supply Point (GSP) Strategic Development Plan Consultation
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks invited stakeholders to share their thoughts and comments on their draft Strategic Development Plan for Cowley GSP.
- Cowley Grid Supply Point (GSP) Strategic Development Plan Consultation
- Vale of White Horse’s response to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks’ Cowley Grid Supply Point (GSP) Strategic Development Plan Consultation.
Cherwell Local Plan 2040 Regulation 19 Consultation
Cherwell District Council invited views and comments on its Local Plan.
- Cherwell District Council’s Local Plan 2040 Regulation 19 Consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to Cherwell District Council’s Local Plan 2040 Regulation 19 Consultation.
Compulsory Purchase Process and Compensation Reforms
HM Government sought views on a range of proposals aimed at implementing technical reforms to the compulsory purchase process.
- HM Government’s Compulsory Purchase Process and Compensation Reforms consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Compulsory Purchase Process and Compensation Reforms consultation.
- Compulsory Purchase Process and Compensation Reforms: Consultation outcome.
Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees
HM Government invited views on models for a national scheme of delegation.
- HM Government’s Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees.
Planning Reform Working Paper: Streamlining Infrastructure Planning
HM Government invited views on further action they could take through the planning system to streamline the development of critical infrastructure.
- HM Government’s Planning Reform Working Paper: Streamlining Infrastructure Planning.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Planning Reform Working Paper: Streamlining Infrastructure Planning.
January 2025
Local Government Finance Settlement 2025/26
HM Government sought views on its proposals for the local government finance settlement for 2025 to 2026.
- HM Government’s Local Government Finance Settlement 2025/26 consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Local Government Finance Settlement 2025/26 consultation.
- Provisional local government finance settlement 2025 to 2026 consultation: summary of responses.
The Funding and Sustainability of Local Government Finance
The House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee issued a call for evidence to inform its inquiry into whether the local government finance system is fit for purpose and if it can meet the needs of local authorities and service users.
- Vale of White Horse’s submission to the House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry into the funding and sustainability of local government finance.
- The House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’s Report on The Funding and Sustainability of Local Government Finance.
Reforming the Right to Buy
HM Government sought views on how the Right to Buy should be reformed to deliver a fairer and more sustainable scheme.
- HM Government’s Reforming the Right to Buy consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Reforming the Right to Buy consultation.
- HM Government’s response to the consultation on Reforming the Right to Buy.
December 2024
Bathing Waters Reform Consultation
HM Government requested views on proposed reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 for England and Wales.
- HM Government’s Bathing Waters Reform Consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Bathing Waters Reform Consultation.
- HM Government’s response to the Bathing Waters Reform Consultation.
Southern Water Draft Water Resources Management Plan
Southern Water requested views from interested parties on their revised draft water resources management plan (WRMP 2024) covering the 50-year period from 2025 to 2075.
- Southern Water’s Draft Water Resources Management Plan Consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s submission to Southern Water’s Draft Water Resources Management Plan consultation.
- Southern Water’s response to their Draft Water Resources Management Plan Consultation.
- Southern Water’s reply to Vale of White Horse’s consultation submission.
November 2024
Invest 2035: The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy
HM Government wanted to hear views on the proposals within their industrial strategy.
- HM Government’s consultation on Invest 2035: The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s consultation on Invest 2035: The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.
September 2024
Proposed Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the Planning System
HM Government sought views on their proposed approach to revising the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). They also requested feedback on a series of wider national planning policy reforms.
- HM Government’s Proposed Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the Planning System consultation.
- Vale of White Horse’s response to HM Government’s Proposed Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the Planning System consultation.
- HM Government’s response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation.
