West Oxfordshire is a local government district in northwest Oxfordshire, England, including towns such as Woodstock, Burford, Chipping Norton, Charlbury, Carterton and Witney, where the council is based.
West Oxfordshire District | |
|---|---|
 Witney, the largest settlement and administrative centre of the district. | |
 West Oxfordshire shown within Oxfordshire | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | South East England |
| Non-metropolitan county | Oxfordshire |
| Status | Non-metropolitan district |
| Admin HQ | Witney |
| Incorporated | 1 April 1974 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Non-metropolitan district council |
| • Body | West Oxfordshire District Council |
| • Leadership | Leader & Cabinet |
| • MPs | |
| Area | |
• Total | 275.83 sq mi (714.40 km2) |
| • Rank | 46th (of 296) |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 116,928 |
| • Rank | 207th (of 296) |
| • Density | 420/sq mi (160/km2) |
| Ethnicity (2021) | |
| • Ethnic groups | |
| Religion (2021) | |
| • Religion | List
|
| Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
| ONS code | 38UF (ONS) E07000181 (GSS) |
| OS grid reference | SP3591610698 |
Area
editThe area is mainly rural downland and forest, with the main economic activities being farming and associated trades. West Oxfordshire lies within the River Thames catchment area, with the Thames itself and its tributaries including the River Evenlode and River Windrush running through the area.[2] Parts of the district suffered severe flooding during the 2007 floods in the UK.[3] Some areas of the district lie within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
History
editWest Oxfordshire district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of five former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:[4]
- Chipping Norton Municipal Borough
- Chipping Norton Rural District
- Witney Rural District
- Witney Urban District
- Woodstock Municipal Borough
The new district was named West Oxfordshire, describing its location within the wider county.[5]
Governance
editWest Oxfordshire District Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Giles Hughes | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 49 councillors |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 2 May 2024 |
Next election | 7 May 2026 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Council Offices, Woodgreen, Witney, OX28 1NB | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Oxfordshire has a two-tier structure of local government, with the five district councils (including West Oxfordshire District Council) providing district-level services, and Oxfordshire County Council providing county-level services.[8] There is also a third tier of local government in West Oxfordshire of civil parishes.
Political control
editThe council has been under no overall control since the 2022 election. The Liberal Democrats subsequently formed an administration with Labour and the Greens, with Liberal Democrat Andy Graham becoming the leader of the council.[9] The same coalition continued following both the 2023 and 2024 elections.[10]
The first election to the district council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[11][12]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | 1974–1976 | |
| No overall control | 1976–1983 | |
| Conservative | 1983–1984 | |
| No overall control | 1984–1987 | |
| Conservative | 1987–1990 | |
| Independent | 1990–1992 | |
| No overall control | 1992–2000 | |
| Conservative | 2000–2022 | |
| No overall control | 2022–present | |
Leadership
editThe leaders of the council since 2001 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Norton[13] | Conservative | 2001 | May 2016 | |
| James Mills[14] | Conservative | 18 May 2016 | 28 Oct 2020 | |
| Michele Mead[15] | Conservative | 28 Oct 2020 | 18 May 2022 | |
| Andy Graham[16] | Liberal Democrats | 18 May 2022 | ||
Composition
editFollowing the 2024 election and the November 2024 Chipping Norton by-election[17], the council's political make-up was:[18][10]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | 22 | |
| Conservative | 13 | |
| Labour | 10 | |
| Green | 4 | |
| Total | 49 | |
The next election is due in 2026.[19]
Elections
editSince the last full review of boundaries in 2002, the council has comprised 49 councillors representing 27 wards. Elections are held in three out of every four years, with one third of the seats on the council being elected at each election. Oxfordshire County Council elections are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no district council elections.[20]
Premises
editThe council is based at the former Witney Rural District Council offices on Woodgreen in Witney. The building was built as a large house in 1887 for one of the town's blanket manufacturers, and was originally known as Springfield, 39 Woodgreen.[21][22][23] The building was acquired by Witney Rural District Council around 1966 and is now known as Council Offices, Woodgreen.
Towns and parishes
editThe whole district is covered by civil parishes. The parishes of Burford, Carterton, Charlbury, Chipping Norton, Witney, and Woodstock have been declared towns and their parish councils therefore take the style 'town council'.[24] Bampton is a post town, but has a parish council rather than a town council.[25]
References
edit- ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – West Oxfordshire Local Authority (E07000181)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "West Oxfordshire District Council – Preparing for Flooding".
- ^ "Witney Flood Gallery".
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 25 April 2023
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 25 April 2023
- ^ "Council minutes, 22 May 2024". West Oxfordshire District Council. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Council minutes, 18 May 2022" (PDF). West Oxfordshire District Council. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 3 March 2023
- ^ "Lib Dems set to join forces with Labour and the Greens to take control of West Oxfordshire District Council". 6 May 2022.
- ^ a b Ingham, Jack (14 May 2024). "Lib Dem, Labour and Green groups maintain hold on West Oxfordshire District Council". Banbury Guardian. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 26 November 2024. (Put "West Oxfordshire" in search box to see specific results.)
- ^ "West Oxfordshire". BBC News Online. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ Oliver, Matt (5 April 2016). "Council leader Sir Barry Norton to stand down as West Oxfordshire councillor after 43 years". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ "Council minutes, 18 May 2016" (PDF). West Oxfordshire District Council. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ "Council minutes, 28 October 2020" (PDF). West Oxfordshire District Council. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ "Council minutes, 18 May 2022" (PDF). West Oxfordshire District Council. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ {{url=https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/media/ow1ky3fw/final-declared-declaration-of-results-chipping-norton.pdf | title=Declaration of result of poll | publisher=West Oxfordshire District Council
- ^ "West Oxfordshire result – Local Elections 2024". BBC News.
- ^ "West Oxfordshire". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "The District of West Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2001", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2001/48, retrieved 2 June 2023
- ^ "Oxfordshire History Centre Archive Catalogue". Oxfordshire County Council. 11 November 2005. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
F17/1/P1/20: 2 postcards of Springfield, Witney, c. 1920, an Early family home, later used by Witney Rural District Council.
- ^ 1911 United Kingdom census, Class RG14; Piece 8227; Schedule 158. List address: "Springfield", 39 Woodgreen, Witney.
- ^ "Springfield". Witney Blanket Story. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ "Parish / Town Council Elections" (PDF). West Oxfordshire District Council. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Bampton Parish Council". Retrieved 15 July 2024.