In response to the proposed reorganisation of local government in Oxfordshire, the Oxford & District Labour Party has adopted the following position:

“Oxford and District Labour Party is aware that there are proposals to abolish district councils in Oxfordshire and replace them with a unitary County Council. We believe that such a reorganisation would be a disaster for Oxford City itself. We are proud of the distinctive nature of our city, and of the progressive values that are able to be pursued by Labour in Oxford – investing in rather than cutting services, stepping up to support the homeless while the County Council has walked away, prioritising support for the vulnerable, support for council housing, and retaining services in-house and selling them to other organisations to generate income, as an alternative to privatisation. We note the stark contrast with the record of Conservative-run Oxfordshire County Council (as a result of its poor leadership, not failings by the County Council’s workforce.

We resolve to oppose any attempts to create a unitary county council, and to respond in these terms to the County Council’s current consultation on its plans.

For anyone wanting further comment, please email info@oxfordlabour.org.uk