Last week we shared a statement on the news that LGR in Oxfordshire had been paused.
For VCS groups across Oxfordshire, you may know a lot about this, but maybe you want to know a little more about what LGR is and how it might affect you. If that is the case, we hope this guide can help.
Local Government Reorganising announced
In December 2024 national government released a white paper that set out plans for a simpler local government structure. By November 2025 Oxfordshire had proposed three models which had been consulted on by local authorities, organisations, and residents.
In July 2026 the government announced their decision to make plans for the Three Council proposal to go through. This would mean elections in May 2027, and the new councils would be in place in April 2028. The three-council option includes a new Northern Oxfordshire, Greater Oxford and Ridgeway which includes West Berkshire.
On Monday 7th September the government announced a pause on this decision, with elections being pushed back a year.
As the weeks move on, we hope to hear from central government what the next steps on this process will be. We know this may worry groups and we want to make sure that we work in partnership not only to continue offering support, but to ensure that the voice of the voluntary, charity and community sector is heard.
If you would like to share your thoughts, questions or concerns please complete our form. Please note this form is for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, and contents will be shared across our four infrastructure organisations.
Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action