Under new proposals for reorganising local government the current two-tier system of local government could be scrapped.

In Oxfordshire all six councils – the county and five district councils – could be abolished and replaced with a new ‘unitary’ council.

Above that new ‘super-council’ would sit a larger strategic authority, potentially covering Thames Valley and led by a directly-elected mayor.

Similar devolution proposals were suggested as long ago as 2017.

Two independent studies by Grant Thornton and PwC commissioned by the county and the district councils estimated that ending the inefficiency of running six councils and joining up related services would save £100m over the first five years – money that could be spent on improving public services and keeping council tax down.

Nowadays the issue is even more pressing.

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© The Oxford Times