Fire Service
You may have seen that a consultation is open to comment on possible changes to fire service provision in Oxfordshire: https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ofrs-consultation
This proposed change is driven by significant changes in the demand for their services and in the availability of staff. There are many fewer fires than there used to be (for lots of reasons, including the reduction in smoking and safer electrical goods) so most work now is related to fire prevention and to Road Traffic collisions.
It is also harder to get on-call fire staff, which means that the on-call stations like Henley and Woodstock are sometimes not crewed. That means that there is a plan to focus more on the fulltime stations, like Witney, and ensure that they are in the right place to cover the demands on their time.
For instance, there is a proposal to build a new fire centre north of Kidlington. Call out times will be quicker in most of the county, and only a few seconds slower in the city. There will always be sufficient fire crews and equipment to cover the whole area.
It is obviously emotive to close some fire stations, including Eynsham, but already if there was a fire or traffic incident in the Eynsham area, the first tender to arrive would frequently be from Witney. I will be interested to hear the views of residents. Our fire station has been part of the community for a long time, crewed by local firefighters.
Roads
Alongside the regular road repair work, in which the County Council has invested record sums, we have set up a special Highways Asset Response Team to look at specific areas and undertake minor repairs: https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/hart-of-the-community-new-teams-target-areas-most[1]in-need-of-highway-work
We listened to residents saying that the FixMyStreet process needed to be augmented by a team looking at whole areas rather than individual defects. Please keep reporting issues you find.
Oxford Congestion charge
This has now been in place since 29 October. As mentioned lots of times, with the exception of a small area in the centre of Oxford, everywhere will be reachable by car without going past a camera. That includes the John Radcliffe Hospital, which will still be reachable by the same routes people now use, ie either Marsh Road or London Road. Eynsham residents will get 25 free passes. You need to apply for these at https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/transport-and-travel/oxfords-temporary-congestion[1]charge-cars-cars/apply-permit
Blue Badge holders are exempt, as are van drivers. Most people have been able to register easily, but there is a helpline for those who need assistance.
So far, it seems to be working with bus usership up, key congestion hotspots like St Aldates free moving, buses being able to stick to timetable and, as promised by them, Stagecoach and Oxford Bus increasing the number and frequency of services. And visitor and shopper numbers in the city appear as buoyant as before. We will of course share proper data after the scheme has been in place for longer.
Budget
The County Council is in the process of setting budgets for the Financial Year from April 2026. The budget will be set at the council meeting on 10 February.
There is a complete review of local government finance going on, details being announced imminently, which is likely to see places like Oxfordshire lose substantial amounts of funding from central government through “council tax equalisation” and from a business rate reset. That means even more of the council’s funding will have to come from Council Tax payers.
Local Government Reorganisation
Three proposals will be delivered to government by the end of the month. One from the County Council proposes a single unitary authority for Oxfordshire, with key decisions delegated to area committees. The rural districts have proposed a two unitary model which would encompass West Berkshire, with a northern unitary comprising West Oxfordshire, Cherwell and the City. And the City Council has proposed a three unitary model which would leave a much-reduced West and Cherwell as a very small standalone.
Opinions differ as to what will work best. I have many concerns about both the two and three unitary models, which would involve dismantling and then restructuring key services for children and adults and reduce financial resilience. The decision is one for government, and we expect to hear in the spring.
As ever, I can be contacted at dan.levy@oxfordshire.gov.uk.