Dan Peters Paul Marinko 18 January 2022

Oxfordshire councils look to scrap partnership

Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council have announced they are looking to end their formal partnership.

The two councils brought their services under the management of joint chief executive Yvonne Rees in 2018. However, they have now revealed they were in talks to bring the ‘formal partnership arrangement’ to an end.

It means that Ms Rees will return to her post as Cherwell chief executive following a formal council decision by both authorities, with Oxfordshire due to recruit a new county chief executive.

Cherwell leader Barry Wood said: ‘The partnership has served the councils and our residents very well for the past three years, and enabled us to deliver high-quality cost-effective services, but it is now time for us to explore other opportunities.’

Oxfordshire leader Liz Leffman added the council wanted to ‘focus on the opportunities that broader partnership working gives us so that we can best serve the residents of Oxfordshire’.

The MJ also reports that a blow has been dealt to the partnership between Gloucester City Council and Gloucestershire County Council.

#Partnerships #Chief executives #Local Government Association #People #Improvement #Management

Analysis

10 ways councils are responding to new housing and planning policy

With the Government’s target of building 1.5 million homes by 2029 looming, councils are enacting a number of policy shifts to accelerate housing delivery and increase the efficiency of planning processes.

Opinion

Making AI work for women: A leadership opportunity for local government

Artificial intelligence (AI) is arriving in local government bringing challenges and opportunities, which will transform the workplace and affect women in particular, says Anna Triponel, human rights expert and the founder of Human Level.

Most Popular News

Council workers offered 3.3% pay rise

Essex threatens legal action over reorganisation

Final reorganisation decisions for four priority areas announced

Half of approved homes remain unbuilt, council chiefs say

Oxfordshire issues legal warning over unauthorised flags

New Products

Safeguarding Children - the AAT Way

MSL enhances hygiene auditing with air quality testing for Awaab’s Law compliance

Cadcorp launches Mapestry

Bolton Council Upgrades 120+ School Crossings with Smart CMS Control by Lucy Zodion

NEC CONTRACTS HAS GONE DIGITAL: PAPERLESS, TO GIVE YOU MORE

Vent-Axia Delivers Social Housing a Smart Ventilation Solution Ahead of Awaab’s Law

New remotely lockable cabinet will help manage medication for people with mental health issues

Case Studies

Acrospire Delivers Seamless Heritage Lighting Upgrade on Bath’s North Parade Bridge

Acrospire Delivers Retrofit Lighting for Newbridge’s Joe Calzaghe Footbridge

Acrospire Delivers PIR-Controlled Lighting at Ruislip Lido Car Park

Spennymoor Market Place and Consett Middle Street revitalised using Thorn Lighting’s Thor Lanterns and Customisable Gobo Projectors

Acrospire Partners with Bath & North East Somerset Council to Illuminate Historic Film Location with LED Upgrade

Believ to install 22 charge points across Redcar and Cleveland

Acrospire Enhances Harlington Underpass with Energy-Saving Vandal-Resistant Lighting

Company Anouncements

Apricorn Becomes First and Only Hardware-Encrypted USB Storage Device Manufacturer to Achieve AS9100 Certification

AAT helps Councils step up to address children’s social care

CU Phosco Approved as a Crown Commercial Service Supplier

Acrospire triumphs at the 2025 HEA Awards with Sustainable Project of the Year

TRT Lighting retrofit helps Lincolnshire County Council cut street lighting energy use by over 65%

Vent-Axia Welcomes Healthy Homes Standard

Vent-Axia Helps Tackle Condensation and Mould this World Ventilation Day

Director of Legal & Governance (Monitoring Officer)

Hampshire and the Solent Combined Authority

Up to £118,000

The Hampshire & Solent Combined County Authority is being established at pace, bringing together a uniquely complex geography and economy. Hampshire / Hybrid

Recuriter: Hampshire and the Solent Combined Authority

Executive Director of Finance (Section 73 Officer)

Up to £150,000

As our first Executive Director of Finance and statutory Section 73 Officer, you will build the financial architecture that makes this possible. Hampshire / Hybrid

Recuriter: Hampshire and the Solent Combined Authority