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:[4]
The new district was named Cherwell after the main river in the area.[5]
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.
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.[8]
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.[9]
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]
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'.[18]
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,[19] ending a 24-year period of the Conservatives being in charge of the council.[20]
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.[21][22] In 2023 the council announced plans to move its headquarters into the Castle Quay shopping centre in Banbury and sell the Bodicote House site.[23]
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.[24]
Arms
Coat of arms of Cherwell
Notes
Granted 21 March 2016
Crest
On a Wreath Or and Vert in front of a Rainbow proper an Oak Tree eradicated Sable leaved Vert and fructed Or, Mantled Vert and Azure lined Or and Argent.
Escutcheon
Vert a Pale wavy Or thereon a Pale wavy Azure all between two Pallets Argent on each a Pallet Azure.
Bicester, the second-largest settlement in the district
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.
^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,[14] but no alternative leader who could command a majority had emerged by then either so Barry Wood was reinstated as leader.[15]
^"Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 26 November 2024. (Put "Cherwell" in search box to see specific results.)
^"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...
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