West Oxfordshire

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
Non-metropolitan district
Witney, the largest settlement and administrative centre of the district.
Witney, the largest settlement and administrative centre of the district.
West Oxfordshire shown within Oxfordshire
West Oxfordshire shown within Oxfordshire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth East England
Non-metropolitan countyOxfordshire
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQWitney
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyWest Oxfordshire District Council
 • LeadershipLeader & Cabinet
 • MPsRobert Courts
Area
 • Total275.83 sq mi (714.40 km2)
 • Rank54th (of 309)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total114,237
 • Rank211th (of 309)
 • Density410/sq mi (160/km2)
 • Ethnicity
98.4% White
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code38UF (ONS)
E07000181 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSP3591610698

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.[1] Parts of the district suffered severe flooding during the 2007 floods in the UK.[2] 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:[3]

The new district was named West Oxfordshire, describing its location within the wider county.[4]

Governance
West Oxfordshire District Council
Logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Julian Cooper,
Liberal Democrat
since 18 May 2022
Andy Graham,
Liberal Democrat
since 18 May 2022[5]
Giles Hughes
Structure
Seats49
Political groups
Administration (31)
  Liberal Democrats (18)
  Labour (10)
  Green (3)

Opposition (18)

  Conservative (17)
  Independent (1)
Elections
Last election
5 May 2022
Meeting place
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.[6]

Political control

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:[7][8]

Party in controlYears
Independent1974–1976
No overall control1976–1983
Conservative1983–1984
No overall control1984–1987
Conservative1987–1990
Independent1990–1992
No overall control1992–2000
Conservative2000–2022
No overall control2022–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:[9]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Barry Norton[10] Conservative20018 May 2016
James Mills[11] Conservative18 May 201628 Oct 2020
Michele Mead[12] Conservative28 Oct 202018 May 2022
Andy Graham[13] Liberal Democrats18 May 2022

Elections
Main article: West Oxfordshire District Council elections

Elections to West Oxfordshire District Council are held in three out of every four years, with one third of the seats on the council being elected at each election. Since the first election to the council in 1973 the only political party to have had a majority on the council is the Conservative Party, although there have been periods where no party has had a majority and independents had a majority from 1973 to 1976 and from 1990 to 1992. The council went into no overall control following the 2022 local elections with the Liberal Democrats agreeing to form an executive with Labour and the Greens. Liberal Democrat Andy Graham subsequently became the leader of the council.[14]

As of the 2023 local elections, the council consisted of the following councillors:[15]

Party Councillors
Liberal Democrat 18
Conservative 17
Labour 10
Green 3
Independent 1

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.[16][17][18] The building was acquired by Witney Rural District Council around 1966 and is now known as Council Offices, Woodgreen.

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

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