Concern for local elections in Oxfordshire
The government’s plans to reorganise local government has led to speculation that local elections due to be held this year could be cancelled.
Last updated 10th Jan 2025
Delaying this year’s county council’s election to 2026 could risk harming democracy, the leader of the city council has said.
The government’s plans to reorganise local government has led to speculation that local elections due to be held this year could be cancelled.
Leaders of Oxfordshire County Council asserted they were concerned about the prospect of cancelling the local elections, and said they wanted to move “at pace” with the government’s devolution plans.
They held a discussion over whether the council should send a letter to the government asking to join a “fast-track” to accelerate local government reorganisation and unlock devolution, at an extra cabinet meeting on Thursday, January 9.
The letter also said that while the county council had “significant concerns” about postponing local elections, it would accept it if a new unitary council was created by 2026.
Speaking at the meeting, leader of Oxford City Council Susan Brown said she could not agree with this version of the letter.
She said: “Despite this letter suggesting that county isn’t in favour of cancelling this year’s elections, the only purpose for expressions of interest going to government by tomorrow is to ask the government to cancel county council elections.
“If that is not the aim of the county council cabinet, then there is no need to rush ahead with this letter and I would urge you not to send it.
“It would be premature to ask for Oxfordshire County Council elections in May 2025 to be cancelled.
“Cancelation of county elections risks creating a democratic deficit.
“I believe people across Oxfordshire have a right to vote on the current administration’s record.”
She added that she was “fully committed” to working with Oxfordshire councils and neighbouring councils speaking stakeholders, businesses and residents to work out best approach to unitarization, and support moving towards a Thames Valley mayoral authority.
"Could risk harming democracy"
Deputy leader of the county council Dr Pete Sudbury said it was “not the case” the letter accepted the local elections would be cancelled.
He added: “We have said we think there should be elections and only in the most extreme case. If the government said we can start a unitary in a year’s time, would we think about delaying.
“That is caveated as much as we can without it forming a potential block to the government putting us on a fast-track.
“If we hang back, the further down the queue you are, the worse the deal you get.
“I don’t know how anyone can advocate for delay unless if they want the process not to work.”
He added that any delays in council reorganisation would create uncertainty for staff and create a “blight” in the planning process.
Other council leaders supported the letter and urged the council to move forward quickly to avoid uncertainty for council staff and residents.
Eddie Reeves, leader of the Conservative group on both the county council and Cherwell District Council, said: “I’m sure we would all prefer to go to the polls sooner rather than later, however I do not think it credible given the government’s framework that we can simultaneously say we’re keen on devolution (…) and yet we can also have upper tier authority elections.
“I think it’s far better to give ourselves 12 months to sort this out, and sort this out well.”
Leader of the county council Liz Leffman explained the council were not eligible to apply for the devolution priority programme, because it did not have a “definite geography” for a combined authority.
She added: “I think we’ve made it clear in this letter that we are concerned about a postponement.
“We do want to put this letter to the government because we want to make it clear that we are ambitious.”
The cabinet voted unanimously to send the letter to the government.