West Oxfordshire

Last updated

West Oxfordshire District
Non-metropolitan district
Church Green, Witney - geograph.org.uk - 2429116.jpg
Witney, the largest settlement and administrative centre of the district.
West Oxfordshire UK locator map.svg
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
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyWest Oxfordshire District Council
 • Leadership Leader & Cabinet
 •  MPs Robert Courts
Area
 • Total275.83 sq mi (714.40 km2)
 • Rank46th (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total116,928
 • Rank207th (of 296)
 • Density420/sq mi (160/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 •  Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 •  Religion
List
Time zone UTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code 38UF (ONS)
E07000181 (GSS)
OS grid reference SP3591610698

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.

Contents

Area

The 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

West 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]

The new district was named West Oxfordshire, describing its location within the wider county. [5]

Governance

West Oxfordshire District Council
West Oxfordshire District Council logo.svg
Type
Type
Leadership
Andrew Coles,
Labour
since 24 May 2023 [6]
Andy Graham,
Liberal Democrat
since 18 May 2022 [7]
Giles Hughes
Structure
Seats49
West Oxfordshire District 2024.svg
Political groups
Administration (36)
  Liberal Democrats (21)
  Labour (11)
  Green (4)

Opposition (13)

  Conservative (13)
Elections
Last election
 2 May 2024
Next election
2026
Meeting place
Council offices in Woodgreen - geograph.org.uk - 3610224.jpg
Council Offices, Woodgreen, Witney, OX28 1NB
Website
www.westoxon.gov.uk

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

The 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 is continuing following the 2023 election.

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: [10] [11]

Party in controlYears
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

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been: [12]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Barry Norton [13] Conservative 20018 May 2016
James Mills [14] Conservative 18 May 201628 Oct 2020
Michele Mead [15] Conservative 28 Oct 202018 May 2022
Andy Graham [16] Liberal Democrats 18 May 2022

Composition

Following the 2024 election, the council's political make-up was: [17]

PartyCouncillors
Liberal Democrats 21
Conservative 13
Labour 11
Green 4
Total49

Premises

The 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. [18] [19] [20] The building was acquired by Witney Rural District Council around 1966 and is now known as Council Offices, Woodgreen.

Elections

Since 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. In the fourth year of the cycle when no district council elections are held, elections to Oxfordshire County Council. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Witney</span> English town in West Oxfordshire

Witney is a market town on the River Windrush in West Oxfordshire in the county of Oxfordshire, England. It is 12 miles (19 km) west of Oxford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherwell (district)</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Cherwell is a local government district in northern Oxfordshire, England. The district was created in 1974 and takes its name from the River Cherwell, which drains south through the region to flow into the River Thames at Oxford. Towns in Cherwell include Banbury and Bicester. Kidlington is a contender for largest village in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotswold District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Cotswold is a local government district in Gloucestershire, England. It is named after the wider Cotswolds region and range of hills. The council is based in the district's largest town of Cirencester. The district also includes the towns of Chipping Campden, Fairford, Lechlade, Moreton-in-Marsh, Northleach, Stow-on-the-Wold and Tetbury, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bassetlaw District</span> District of Nottinghamshire, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teignbridge</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Teignbridge is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based in the town of Newton Abbot. The district also includes the towns of Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Dawlish, Kingsteignton and Teignmouth, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. Teignbridge contains part of the south Devon coastline, including the Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve. Some of the inland western parts of the district lie within the Dartmoor National Park. It is named after the old Teignbridge hundred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Oxfordshire</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

South Oxfordshire is a local government district in the ceremonial county of Oxfordshire, England. Its council is temporarily based outside the district at Abingdon-on-Thames pending a planned move to Didcot, the district's largest town. The areas located south of the River Thames are within the historic county of Berkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Staffordshire</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

South Staffordshire is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. Its council is based in Codsall. Other notable settlements include Brewood, Cheslyn Hay, Coven, Essington, Featherstone, Four Ashes, Great Wyrley, Huntington, Kinver, Landywood, Penkridge, Perton, Wedge Mills, Weston-under-Lizard and Wombourne. The district covers a largely rural area lying immediately to the west and north-west of the West Midlands conurbation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewes District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Lewes is a local government district in East Sussex, England. The district is named after the town of Lewes. The largest town is Seaford. The district also includes the towns of Newhaven, Peacehaven and Telscombe and numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The Council is based at Marine Workshops a former industrial building in Newhaven which it shares with East Sussex Colleges Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Boston</span> Non-metropolitan district and borough in England

The Borough of Boston is a local government district with borough status in Lincolnshire, England. Its council is based in the town of Boston. The borough also includes numerous villages in the surrounding rural area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chipping Norton</span> Market town in West Oxfordshire, England

Chipping Norton is a market town and civil parish in the Cotswold Hills in the West Oxfordshire district of Oxfordshire, England, about 12 miles (19 km) south-west of Banbury and 18 miles (29 km) north-west of Oxford. The 2011 Census recorded the civil parish population as 5,719. It was estimated at 6,254 in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Chelmsford</span> City and borough in Essex, England

The City of Chelmsford is a local government district with borough and city status in Essex, England. It is named after its main settlement, Chelmsford, which is also the county town of Essex. As well as the settlement of Chelmsford itself, the district also includes the surrounding rural area and the town of South Woodham Ferrers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banbury (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1801 onwards

Banbury is a constituency in Oxfordshire created in 1553 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Victoria Prentis of the Conservative Party. She currently serves as Attorney General for England and Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Witney (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom since 1983

Witney is a county constituency in Oxfordshire represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2016 by Robert Courts of the Conservative Party. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election, and was created for the 1983 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 West Oxfordshire District Council election</span>

The 2003 West Oxfordshire District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of West Oxfordshire District Council in Oxfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 West Oxfordshire District Council election</span>

The 2007 West Oxfordshire District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of West Oxfordshire District Council in Oxfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 West Oxfordshire District Council election</span>

The 2012 West Oxfordshire District Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of West Oxfordshire District Council in Oxfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 West Oxfordshire District Council election</span>

The 2014 West Oxfordshire District Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of West Oxfordshire District Council in Oxfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

Chipping Norton Rural District was a rural district in Oxfordshire, England from 1894 to 1974. It surrounded but did not include the town of Chipping Norton.

Witney Rural District was a rural district in Oxfordshire, England from 1894 to 1974. It surrounded but did not include the town of Witney.

References

  1. 1 2 UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – West Oxfordshire Local Authority (E07000181)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "West Oxfordshire District Council – Preparing for Flooding".
  3. ↑ "Witney Flood Gallery".
  4. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 25 April 2023
  5. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 25 April 2023
  6. ↑ "Council meeting, 24 May 2023". West Oxfordshire District Council. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "Council minutes, 18 May 2022" (PDF). West Oxfordshire District Council. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 3 March 2023
  9. ↑ "Lib Dems set to join forces with Labour and the Greens to take control of West Oxfordshire District Council".
  10. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "West Oxfordshire". BBC News Online . Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "Council minutes". West Oxfordshire District Council. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ "Council minutes, 18 May 2016" (PDF). West Oxfordshire District Council. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "Council minutes, 28 October 2020" (PDF). West Oxfordshire District Council. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  16. ↑ "Council minutes, 18 May 2022" (PDF). West Oxfordshire District Council. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  17. ↑ "West Oxfordshire result – Local Elections 2024". BBC News.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ 1911 United Kingdom census, Class RG14; Piece 8227; Schedule 158. List address: "Springfield", 39 Woodgreen, Witney.
  20. ↑ "Springfield". Witney Blanket Story. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  21. ↑ "The District of West Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2001", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2001/48, retrieved 2 June 2023

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