Local Government Reorganisation
Case reference FOI2026/01061
Received 16 September 2026
Published 13 October 2026
Request
We would like to establish the costs incurred by councils to date, within the context of the current review taking place. Please could you provide the following:
1. The financial cost incurred by the council on preparing for local government reorganisation broken down by
a. cost overall
b. expenditure to date
c. funding committed
d. funding allocated
1. The total cost of the LGR programme management offices (including funding committed to implementation staff salaries, and backfilling business as usual roles by people redeployed to LGR roles) to date
2. The total cost of legal advice and legal fees related to the LGR programme
3. The total cost of consultancy contracts, to advise the council on local government reorganisation
4. The total amount of funding allocated to your council by the government for the LGR programme
5. The amount of government funding received by the council to date for the LGR programme
Response
1. The financial cost incurred by the council on preparing for local government reorganisation broken down by
a. cost overall
b. expenditure to date
Up to 8 September 2026, the Council had spent an estimated £721k from 2024/2025 onwards. In the month since the Government’s announcement of a review of its LGR decisions the Council has spent around £45k on LGR work. This is in accordance with the clear guidance from MHCLG that much of the preparatory work – in particular information discovery – should continue.
A reserve has been established to meet future costs as necessary.
c. funding committed
d. funding allocated
Oxford City Council as part of its Medium Term Financial Plan from 2026-27 has allowed for £2million of expenditure on Local Government Reorganisation. To date Oxford City Council has received £95k from central government towards the cost of LGR.
1. The total cost of the LGR programme management offices (including funding committed to implementation staff salaries, and backfilling business as usual roles by people redeployed to LGR roles) to date
As above £721k
2. The total cost of legal advice and legal fees related to the LGR programme
0
3. The total cost of consultancy contracts, to advise the council on local government reorganisation
£486,744
4. The total amount of funding allocated to your council by the government for the LGR programme
The Council has received £95k from Government with the commitment of a further £900k if the three unitary proposal goes ahead.
5. The amount of government funding received by the council to date for the LGR programme
As above
Documents
This is Oxford City Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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