West Oxfordshire District Council is one of three local authorities considering taking more control over council services.

Along with Cotswold District Council and Forest of Dean District Council, it will be considering proposals to return more than 270 employees to direct council employment by the end of the year.

These employees are currently employed under Publica Group Ltd - a company co-owned by the three councils.

Since its establishment in 2017, Publica has been delivering a range of services from customer care and planning to back-room functions such as IT and finance.

However, an independent review, prompted by political shifts within the council, new council priorities, and an evolving local government landscape, has led to the re-examination of the current model.

The review questioned if Publica was still able to meet the current and future needs of its council owners.

Two separate reports recommended a significant number of ‘locally focused services’, including planning, economic development, and community support, should revert to being directly delivered by the councils.

It is believed such a change would enable the councils to better mould the services to the unique needs of their respective areas.

Should the changes go ahead, Publica would still be responsible for delivering a smaller range of services for the councils, like IT, customer services, and benefit payments.

The proposals are for a first phase of employee transfers with a second phase due in early 2025. The first phase includes more than 270 employees.

If given green light, employees would be consulted about the proposed changes in September and the anticipated transfer would happen in November.

Most of the workers affected will be subject to a ‘TUPE transfer’, which would ensure their roles, salaries, and other employment benefits are protected during the shift.

In a joint statement, leaders from the councils said: "Every partnership must evolve to meet new challenges and now is the ideal time to make sure that as individual councils we are fit for the future.

"To meet the current and future needs of our communities we need to take greater control of the local services we deliver, so each council can take an approach best suited to its communities.

“Moving services into direct council control will give us more choice and options on how we can find the most cost-effective way to maintain and improve the council services that people rely on.

"While this may mean a change for some staff, the vast majority will see their jobs transferred back to being under council employment.

"We will work hard to support staff through the transition."