Changes to Local Government in Oxfordshire – What Parent Carers Should Know

The UK government is giving more power and funding to local areas so they can make better decisions about transport, housing, the environment, and more. As part of this, councils across England are being reorganised into larger “unitary” councils and some regions will also have elected mayors.

What’s Happening in Oxfordshire?

Oxfordshire has been actively considering several options in response to this change:

• One Council Option: The County Council wants a single unitary authority for all of Oxfordshire, combining the current county and five district councils.

• Alternative Ideas: Some local councils have proposed splitting into two or three unitary councils instead.

• Mayoral Strategic Authority: There’s also a plan to create a larger regional body with an elected mayor to manage services across Oxfordshire and nearby areas.

  
  

Key Dates

Past and future important dates to be aware of are listed below:

• March 21, 2025 – Interim unitary proposals submitted

• November 28, 2025 – Final proposals due

• May 2026 – Likely introduction of Mayoral elections

• May 2028 – New council structures expected to go live

  
  

What This Could Mean for SEND Services

In summary, Oxfordshire is on track to simplify its governance into one (or fewer) unitary councils, while setting up a mayoral-led body to better manage regional services. What could this mean for SEND services?

• If Oxfordshire becomes one council, SEND services will mostly stay the same, just reorganised under one roof.

  
  

• If the area is split into two or three councils, each will need its own SEND department, which could lead to changes in how services are managed and accessed.

  
  

We will keep parent carers updated with more details as plans develop.