After several years of working closely together and sharing some services to save money, South Northamptonshire and Cherwell District councillors are now proposing a full merger to create a new unitary authority. If successful, the proposal, part of a wider plan to form three other unitary authorities combining districts in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, would lead to the abolition of Oxfordshire County Council.
South Northamptonshire Council leader Ian McCord says:
“SNC has a long standing and successful partnership with Cherwell District Council. We already share a management team and have joint departments in many areas. We have saved many millions of pounds through this partnership over the past five years. It seems logical to investigate the feasibility and viability of creating a combined district unitary council based on the current boundaries of both councils.”
The councils will be commissioning independent experts to work with them to produce detailed and costed plans to be considered prior to public consultation in the summer.