Cherwell (district)
History
Cherwell district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of four former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:
The new district was named Cherwell after the main river in the area.
Geography
The northern half of the Cherwell district consists mainly of gently rolling hills going down towards the River Cherwell, but the southern half of the district around Bicester is much flatter. The north-west of the district lies at the northern extremity of the Cotswolds.
Governance
Cherwell District Council | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Gordon Stewart since 2024 | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 48 councillors |
 | |
Political groups | Administration (24)
Opposition (24)
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 2 May 2024 |
Next election | 2026 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Bodicote House, White Post Road, Bodicote, Banbury, OX15 4AA | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Oxfordshire has a two-tier structure of local government, with the five district councils (including Cherwell District Council) providing district-level services, and Oxfordshire County Council providing county-level services.
Political control
The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election. Prior to that election, the Conservatives had held a majority of the seats on the council since 2000. Following the 2024 election a minority Liberal Democrat, Green Party and independent administration formed to run the council.
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:
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| No overall control | 1974–1976 | |
| Conservative | 1976–1995 | |
| No overall control | 1995–1996 | |
| Labour | 1996–1998 | |
| No overall control | 1998–2000 | |
| Conservative | 2000–2023 | |
| No overall control | 2023–present | |
Leadership
The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Reynolds | Conservative | 3 Sep 2001 | 23 Jun 2004 | |
| Barry Wood | Conservative | 23 Jun 2004 | 17 May 2023 | |
| Conservative | 23 May 2023 | 23 May 2024 | ||
| David Hingley | Liberal Democrats | 23 May 2024 | ||
Composition
Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | 17 | |
| Labour | 13 | |
| Conservative | 11 | |
| Green | 4 | |
| Independent | 3 | |
| Total | 48 | |
One of the independent councillors sits with the Green Party as the 'Green and Independent Alliance Group', which forms the council's administration with the Liberal Democrats. The other two independents sit together as the 'Independent Group'.
Following a series of negotiations, it was announced by the council that a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and one independent councillor would take charge of the council as a minority administration, ending a 24-year period of the Conservatives being in charge of the council.
The next election is due 7 May 2026.
Premises
The council is based at Bodicote House in Bodicote, a village immediately to the south of Banbury, the district's largest town. Bodicote House is a large eighteenth century house, which had served as the headquarters of the old Banbury Rural District Council since 1952. Large modern extensions have since been added to the original house. In 2023 the council announced plans to move its headquarters into the Castle Quay shopping centre in Banbury and sell the Bodicote House site.
Elections
Since 2016 the council has comprised 48 councillors elected from 16 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections to the council are held in three out of every four years, with one third of the council being chosen at each election. Elections to Oxfordshire County Council are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no district council elections.
Arms
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Transport
Much of the district is within easy reach of the M40, with junctions 9, 10 and 11 in the district. It also has good rail links with London, Birmingham, Oxford and the South.
Media
In terms of television, the area is served by BBC South and ITV Meridian broadcasting from the Oxford transmitter. However, Banbury can also receive BBC West Midlands and ITV Central from the local relay transmitter which is transmitted via the Sutton Coldfield transmitter.
Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Oxford, Heart Thames Valley, Capital Mid-Counties and Jack FM.
Local newspapers are Banbury Guardian and Bicester Advertiser.
Settlements in Cherwell district
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- Adderbury, Ambrosden, Ardley, Arncott
- Banbury, Barford St. John, Barford St. Michael, Begbroke, Bicester
- Blackthorn
- Bletchingdon, Bloxham, Bodicote
- Broughton
- Bucknell, Burdrop
- Charlton-on-Otmoor, Claydon, Cottisford, Cropredy
- Deddington, Drayton, Duns Tew
- Epwell
- Fencott, Finmere, Fringford, Fritwell
- Godington, Gosford, Great Bourton
- Hampton Poyle, Hanwell, Hardwick, Hethe
- Hook Norton, Horley
- Islip
- Juniper Hill
- Kidlington, Kirtlington
- Launton, Little Bourton, Lower Heyford
- Merton, Middle Aston, Middleton Stoney
- Milcombe, Milton, Mixbury, Mollington, Murcott
- Noke, North Aston, North Newington
- Oddington
- Prescote
- Shenington, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Shutford
- Sibford Ferris, Sibford Gower, Somerton
- Souldern, South Newington, Steeple Aston, Stoke Lyne, Swalcliffe
- Tadmarton, Thrupp
- Upper Heyford
- Wardington, Water Eaton, Weston-on-the-Green, Wroxton
- Yarnton
See also
Notes and References
- ^ Following the Conservatives losing control of the council in the 2023 elections Barry Wood was removed from office at the council's annual meeting on 17 May 2023. Since the council could not agree on a replacement leader the meeting was then adjourned until 23 May 2023 but no alternative leader who could command a majority had emerged by then either so Barry Wood was reinstated as leader.
- ^ UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Cherwell Local Authority (E07000177)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "How do you pronounce Cherwell?". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Ann Spokes Symonds; Nigel Morgan (2010). The Origins of Oxford Street Names. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-899536-99-3.
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 3 March 2023
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 3 March 2023
- ^ Ingham, Jack (23 May 2024). "'New era for Cherwell' - Liberal Democrats form minority administration with Greens in Banbury". Cherwell District Council. Banbury Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Nimmo, Bethan (23 May 2024). "First new council leader for two decade announced". BBC News. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "New Chief Executive confirmed". 13 December 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 3 March 2023
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "Cherwell". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- ^ "Council minutes". Cherwell District Council. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ^ Starr, Claire; Gilyeat, Dave (18 May 2023). "Cherwell stalemate as district council fails to secure new leader". BBC News. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ "Conservatives to lead Cherwell District Council after impasse broken". BBC News. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Cherwell result Local Elections 2024". BBC News. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Your councillor by political grouping". Cherwell District Council. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Rice, Liam (23 May 2024). "Cherwell District Council now run by Liberal Democrat and Green set-up". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Liberal Democrats take charge at Cherwell District Council". Banbury FM Newsteam. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "Bodicote House, High Street, Bodicote (Grade II) (1248703)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "Banbury Rural District Council: Removal of Council Offices". Banbury Guardian. 27 November 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
...all departments of the Banbury Rural District Council (at present accommodated at 8 Horse Fair, Banbury, and at Castle Wharf, Banbury) will be transferred as from Monday the 1st December 1952 to Bodicote House...
- ^ "Bodicote House set to be demolished and replaced with housing". Banbury FM. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "The Cherwell (Electoral Changes) Order 2015", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2015/1872, retrieved 18 May 2023
- ^ "Civic Heraldry of England". Robert Young. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ "Full Freeview on the Oxford (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter". May 2004.
- ^ "Freeview Light on the Bretch Hill (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter". May 2004.
- ^ "Bicester Advertiser | British Newspapers Online". 14 December 2013.
