Oxford City Council

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Oxford City Council is the local authority for the city of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. Oxford has had a council since medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974, Oxford has been a non-metropolitan district, with county-level functions in the city provided by Oxfordshire County Council.

The city council has been under no overall control since 2023. It is based at Oxford Town Hall.

History

Script error: No such module "labelled list hatnote". Oxford was an ancient borough, being governed by a corporation from medieval times. The borough gained city status in 1542. It was reformed in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 to become a municipal borough. When elected county councils were created on 1 April 1889, Oxford was initially within the area of Oxfordshire County Council. Seven months later, on 9 November 1889, the city become a county borough, making it independent from the county council.[1] In 1962 the council was given the right to appoint a Lord Mayor.[2]

Local government was reformed across England and Wales in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, which established a two-tier structure of local government comprising upper-tier counties and lower-tier districts. Oxford became a non-metropolitan district, and county-level functions passed up to Oxfordshire County Council.[3]

In early 2003, Oxford City Council submitted a bid to become a unitary authority.[4] This was received by the Department for Communities and Local Government,[5] but subsequently rejected.[6][7][8]

In 2016, Oxfordshire County Council put forward a 'One Oxfordshire' proposal which would see Oxford City Council and the four other district councils in Oxfordshire abolished and replaced with a single unitary county council for Oxfordshire.[9] In 2017, Oxford City Council voiced their opposition to the proposal,[10] and it was subsequently dropped.

Governance

Oxford City Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Oxfordshire County Council. Some outer parts of the city are also included in civil parishes, which form an additional tier of local government for their areas.[11]

Political control

The first election to the reconstituted city council following the Local Government Act 1972 was held in 1973. It operated as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since then has been as follows:[12][13]

Party in control Years
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In October 2023, the Labour Party lost control of the council after 9 Labour councillors resigned the party in protest at Keir Starmer's refusal to call for a ceasefire in the Gaza war.[14][15] A tenth councillor resigned the part on 14 November, ahead of a vote in Westminster on an SNP amendment to the debate on the Speech from the throne.[16]

Leadership

Template:Also Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council; the role of Lord Mayor is largely ceremonial and usually changes hands each year. The leaders since 1998 have been:

Councillor Party From To
Stan Taylor[17]
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John Tanner[18][19][20]
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Corinna Redman[20]
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Alex Hollingsworth[21][22]
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Template:Redirect category shell || align=right|13 May 2002 || align=right|May 2006

John Goddard[23][24]
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Template:Redirect category shell || align=right|18 May 2006|| align=right|May 2008

Bob Price[25][26]
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Template:Redirect category shell || align=right|15 May 2008|| align=right|29 Jan 2018

Susan Brown[27]
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Composition

Following the 2024 election, and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:[28]

Party Councillors
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Total 48

Of the independent councillors, two sit together as the 'Oxford Community Independents' group, two form the 'Oxford Independent Group' and two form the 'Real Independent Group'.[29] The next election is due in 2026.[28]

Premises

The city council meets at the Town Hall on the street called St Aldate's in the city centre. The current building was completed in 1897, on a site which had been occupied by Oxford's guildhall since the thirteenth century.[30] Between 1967 and 2022 the council had its main offices at St Aldate's Chambers at 113 St Aldate's, a 1930s building opposite the town hall, but continued to use the town hall for meetings.[31] In 2022 the council moved its offices back into the town hall.[32]

Elections

Template:Also Since the last boundary changes came into effect for the 2021 election, the council has comprised 48 councillors representing 24 wards, with each ward electing two councillors. Elections are held in alternate years, with half the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office.[33]

Councillors

Oxford City Council is composed of the following councillors since May 2025:Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Ward Name Party Next Election First Elected
Barton and Sandhills Asima Qayyum
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2028 2024
Barton and Sandhills Mike Rowley
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2026 2010 (by-election)
Blackbird Leys Lubna Arshad
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2026 2018 (in Cowley Marsh)
Blackbird Leys Linda Smith
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2028 2014 (by-election)
Carfax and Jericho Lizzie Diggins
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2028 2021
Carfax and Jericho Alex Hollingsworth
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2026 2014 (by-election)
Churchill Susan Brown
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2026 2014
Churchill Mark Lygo
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2028 2008
Cowley Ian Yeatman
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2028 2024
Cowley Mohammed Latif
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2026 2021 (as Labour)
Cuttleslowe and Sunnymead Andrew Gant
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2028 2014 (in Summertown)
Cuttleslowe and Sunnymead Laurence Fouweather
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2026 2021
Donnington Rosie Rawle
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2026 2022
Donnington Max Morris
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2028 2024
Headington Mohammed Altaf-Khan
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2028 2006 (in Headington Hill and Northway)
Headington Christopher Smowton
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2026 2021
Headington Hill and Northway James Taylor
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2026 2025 (by-election)
Headington Hill and Northway Nigel Chapman
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2028 2016
Hinksey Park Naomi Waite
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2026 2021
Hinksey Park Anna Railton
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2028 2022 (by-election)
Holywell Dianne Regisford
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2028 2024
Holywell Edward Mundy
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2026 2021 (as Labour)
Littlemore Anne Stares
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2028 2024
Littlemore Tiago Jorge de Assis Caldeira Cruz Corais
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2026 2018
Lye Valley Judith Harley
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2028 2024
Lye Valley Ajaz Rehman
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2026 2021 (as Labour)
Marston Mary Clarkson
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2028 1998
Marston Kate Robinson
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2026 2024 (by-election)
Northfield Brook Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini
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2026 2018 (as Labour)
Northfield Brook Simon Ottino
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2028 2024
Osney and St Thomas Susanna Pressel
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2028 1996
Osney and St Thomas Lois Muddiman
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2026 2022
Quarry and Risinghurst Roz Smith
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2028 2018
Quarry and Risinghurst Chewe Munkonge
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2026 2014 (by-election)
Rose Hill and Iffley David Henwood
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2028 2024
Rose Hill and Iffley Edward Turner
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2026 2002
St Clement's Alex Powell
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2028 2024
St Clement's Jemima Hunt
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2026 2021
St Mary's Emily Kerr
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2026 2022
St Mary's Chris Jarvis
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2028 2021
Summertown Theodore Jupp
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2028 2024
Summertown Katherine Miles
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2026 2021
Temple Cowley Mohammed Azad
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2028 2024
Temple Cowley Sajjad Malik
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2026 2004 (as a Liberal Democrat; later Labour)
Walton Manor Louise Upton
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2026 2013 (by-election)
Walton Manor James Fry
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2028 2012
Wolvercote Steve Goddard
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2028 1996
Wolvercote Jo Sandelson
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2026 2022

Climate change

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Oxford City Council became the first UK authority to divest from fossil fuel companies in September 2014.[36]

In 2011, the council had reduced their carbon footprint by 25% against a baseline of 2005/6, and continues to reduce carbon emissions from its own estate by 5% year on year.

In 2014, Oxford City Council was named 'Most Sustainable Local Authority' in the Public Sector Sustainability Awards. That same year, both the city and the county council implemented its own low emission zone (LEZ) for buses, making it UK's second LEZ after London because buses accounted for up to 80% of emissions in the city.[37]

The council leads the Low Carbon Oxford network, a collaboration of over 40 organisations working together to reduce emissions in the city by 40% by 2020.

In 2021, both councils agreed to implement a zero emission zone (ZEZ) which came into force in February 2022, the first of its kind in Britain.[38]

They also lead onto delivering the annual Low Carbon Oxford Week festival, which uses culture, creativity and, community to inspire local people to take action on climate change. In 2015, the festival saw over 60 local organisations partner to deliver over 100 events across the city and attract over 40,000 visitors.

In 2023, Oxford City Council voted to serve plant-based, vegan food at council events. Butchers and animal farmers protested the vote, which came after a similar policy was adopted by the Oxfordshire County Council.[39]

Energy Superhub Oxford

Energy Superhub Oxford is a power optimisation project at Redbridge park and ride. It includes a lithium-ion battery of 48MW/50MWh, a vanadium flow battery of 2MW/5MWh, 20 fast electric vehicle chargers for public use and ground-source heat pumps for residential properties.[40][41]

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  4. ↑ Oxford City Council: the case for unitary status, draft version, 18 January 2007.
  5. ↑ Communities and Local Government press release: Kelly welcomes proposals to improve local services: 26 local authorities bid to move to single tier local Government, 26 January 2007.
  6. ↑ Communities and Local Government: rejection letter to Oxford City Council’s unitary authority bid.
  7. ↑ Communities and Local Government press release: Woolas announces sixteen successful bids for unitary status to improve local services, 27 March 2007.
  8. ↑ Oxford City Council press release: Government backs off Oxfordshire reorganisation, 27 March 2007.
  9. ↑ One Oxfordshire, February 2017.
  10. ↑ Oxford City Council website: Hands off Oxford City, February 2017.
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". (Put "Oxford" in search box to see specific results.)
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  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Template:Cite legislation UK
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Climate change: how to make the big polluters really pay Naomi Klein The Guardian 17 October 2014
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:Authority control

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