As we work on our proposals for local government reorganisation it is increasingly clear we must not lose sight of the devolution agenda. Whatever the future boundaries, a successful approach to public services will still depend on collaboration across boundaries and preparing for a shared future.
In our bit of the country, moving at pace on devolution feels like it should be a no-brainer. We sit at one end of the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor, on which government has pinned hopes of an economic engine that will benefit and boost investment in the whole of the UK. We also have the Oxford Growth Commission, launched at the beginning of May, charged with supporting the delivery of infrastructure, housing and employment to unlock and accelerate growth in the city and surrounding area.