Labour Group Motion

The English Devolution White Paper published by the Government on Monday 16 December 2024 will open up opportunities for our local economy and for local residents in Oxford.[1]

Devolution could give more influence here in our local community over the policies and services that impact on our lives and our local economy. 

While there is much thinking and discussion needed for the detail of the changes in our area, this is a chance to make important changes for the better.

Services currently run from Whitehall could instead be run by a new strategic authority for the Thames Valley, which would be led by a directly elected mayor.

Learning from and inspired by the work of elected Mayors and strategic areas like Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, a Thames Valley authority linking together our cities, towns and villages has the potential to be the largest and most successful economy in the UK outside London. The opportunities for our region are huge, and we need to take advantage of them.  

This council welcomes any movement of power away from Whitehall closer to local communities, and the Mayoral Strategic Authorities will gain strategic powers on transport, employment growth and skills and strategic planning. 

The White Paper also gives us an historic opportunity to bring all local government services back together and to an authority that reflects our city geography.  

Council believeonce unitary geography is established, citizens of Oxford and our local communities will be best served from having councillors who are as close to those communities as possible. It believes that in designing new unitary authorities, there is a balance to be struck over size and that very large authorities are unlikely to be sufficiently responsive to their communities.

We are rightly proud in Oxford that our councillors are representative of our wider community in terms of age, gender, work, skills and diversity. We want to ensure that far into the future councillors of all parties and none will continue to represent the full diversity of our historic city.

Our councillors will be represent all ages; those in work, retired or carers; those whose families have lived here for generations and those who have recently made our city their home; people from many different jobs and experiences and from different working backgrounds and cultures; of different, ethnic, religious and political influences.  

With local government reorganisation alongside the creation of a new strategic authority for the Thames Valley, it is vital that in the new unitary councils, the future representatives are able to continue the long tradition of standing up for the people of Oxford and those who work here. 

Council resolves:

·       To pledge to put the citizens of Oxford at the heart of all of our discussions to develop proposals that will be best for the residents and businesses in our city. 

To side with those who take the time to develop proposals rather than rushing to deliver a particular outcome without public support or consultation.   

This motion was not taken as the time allocated for debate had finished.