Local government reorganisation is set to come into force in April 2028, with elections for a temporary shadow authority or authorities taking place next year, 2027.

Today, May 7, voters in Oxford city and areas of Cherwell and West Oxfordshire will likely be the last to head to the polls under the two-tier system.

Currently, the running of services such as social care, roads, libraries and waste disposal by a county council, with five district and borough councils responsible for rubbish collection, housing and planning, and environmental health.

According to proposals made by the existing councils in November 2025, Oxfordshire will be divided into either one, two, or three unitary authorities, and the government is set to decide on this before the parliamentary summer recess in July of this year.

There was a consultation on plans, which ended on March 26.

The government has described its reasoning for the change.

A statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government states: “Our ambition is to simplify local government, ending the two-tier system and establishing new single-tier unitary councils that are responsible for all local government services in an area.”

The reorganisation also saw the potential for the postponement of today’s elections across 30 councils.

However, the government abandoned plans to hold off the polls after receiving advice from lawyers following a legal challenge from Reform UK.

Thames Valley Police’s Thame Neighbourhood Policing Team investigated a reported ‘recent increase in the anti-social use of off-road motorbikes’ in Chinnor and the surrounding area.

Reports from the public allowed police to identify three suspects and issue them cautions, a spokesperson for the force said on Thursday.

File photo of a police car and a motorcycle (Image: Thames Valley Police)

The spokesperson added: “The Thame Neighbourhood Policing Team have been conducting investigations into the recent increase in the anti-social use of off-road motorbikes in Chinnor and the surrounding area.

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“Thanks to information provided within reports from members of the public, three suspects involved in the incidents have been identified and served with notices under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002.

“This means that if they drive anti-socially on any vehicle, or their vehicle is used for anti-social driving over the next 12 months then it can be seized during or after the incident has occurred.

“The Thame Neighbourhood Policing Team remain aware that this is an ongoing issue and encourage further reports of any future incidents seen, particularly where videos or photographs of the incident exists to enable identification, further enforcement and prosecution of suspects involved in anti-social use of off-road motorbikes.”

Any reports of anti-social behaviour can be made by contacting Thames Valley Police on 101 or making a report online. People are urged to call 999 in an emergency or if a crime is ongoing.

The incident occurred at Icknield Community College in Watlington today (Thursday May 7) in which all students and staff were ‘locked down’ on site.

Parents began receiving communications from the school at about 1pm that the situation was ongoing and no one could access the college grounds to prevent ‘interference’ with the police operations.

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A communication seen by this newspaper from Icknield Community College to parents at the school said: “The school remains in lockdown at this time. Police are currently on site and are supporting the school in managing the situation safely.

“All pupils and staff remain safe and continue to be supervised by school staff.

“We understand this is a concerning situation and appreciate you continued patience and cooperation.”

Police, file photo (Image: Police)

Thames Valley Police said the school took the decision to go into lockdown after it received a ‘malicious communication’, though this was not on advice from the police.

The force added: “There is not thought to be any threat to the public.”

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A further communication from the school sent just later in the afternoon said the lockdown was lifted, and students were able to return to the normal school site.

The second statement said: “We have been working with the police for the last hour and a half evaluating the best way to respond to what was deemed to be a credible phone threat that came into the school today.

“The view is now that our lockdown can be lifted.”