Oxfordshire County Council launches legal challenge to government

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 16:03 · Archive

Oxfordshire County Council has issued a formal legal letter to the UK government ahead of a potential judicial review of planned local government reorganisation.

Oxfordshire County Council has issued a formal pre-action protocol letter to the UK government ahead of a potential judicial review of local government reorganisation in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire. The council has been requesting the government provide the evidence and analysis that informed its July decision to create three unitary councils across the area. Having received no response, the council has now taken the formal legal step to request the evidence and documents underpinning the government's decision-making.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said the government had given 'simple instructions' to recreate new councils without carving up local authority boundaries and to create them at a scale that made them financially resilient. He stated that he could not understand how splitting Oxfordshire into three councils squared with these criteria. Mr Bearder said he had written to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State Angela Rayner, and after meeting with the Housing Minister, had asked for the Civil Servants' advice to ensure transparency.

Oxfordshire County Council launches legal challenge to government — Image: Oxfordshire Guardian

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Oxfordshire County Council launches legal challenge to UK governmentOxfordshire County Council has launched a legal challenge against the UK government with a formal letter.Oxfordshire Guardian · 14 Oct, 15:32
Oxfordshire County Council launches legal challenge to UK governmentOxfordshire County Council has launched a legal challenge against the UK government with a formal letter.Oxford Mail · 14 Oct, 15:32

In this story: Oxfordshire County Council · UK government · Tim Bearder · Angela Rayner · Oxfordshire · West Berkshire

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