Cherwell (district)

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:{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|accessdate=3 March 2023}}

• Banbury Municipal Borough
• Banbury Rural District
• Bicester Urban District
• Ploughley Rural District

The new district was named Cherwell after the main river in the area.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|accessdate=3 March 2023}}

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.

{{Infobox legislature

| name = Cherwell District Council

| logo_pic =

| logo_res =

| house_type = Non-metropolitan district council

| body =

| houses =

| leader1_type = Chair

| leader1 = Chukwudi Okeke

| party1 =
Labour

| election1 = 23 May 2024{{cite web |title='New era for Cherwell' - Liberal Democrats form minority administration with Greens in Banbury |url=https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/politics/new-era-for-cherwell-liberal-democrats-form-minority-administration-with-greens-in-banbury-4639805|website=Cherwell District Council |access-date=23 May 2024|date=23 May 2024|publisher=Banbury Guardian|first1=Jack|last1=Ingham}}

| leader2_type = Leader

| leader2 = David Hingley

| party2 =
Liberal Democrats

| election2 = 22 May 2024

| leader3_type = Chief Executive

| leader3 = Gordon Stewart

| party3 =

| election3 = 2024{{cite news |title=New Chief Executive confirmed |url=https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/news/article/1088/new-chief-executive-confirmed |access-date=18 March 2024 |date=13 December 2023}}

| members = 48 councillors

| structure1 =File:Cherwell District Council Composition 2024.svg

| structure1_res = 250

| political_groups1 = Administration (22)

:{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Liberal Democrats (17)

:{{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} Green Party (4)

: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent}}|border=darkgray}} Independent (1)

Opposition (26)

:{{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Labour (13)

:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Conservative (11)}}

: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent}}|border=darkgray}} Independent (2)

| last_election1 = 2 May 2024

| next_election1 = 2026

| session_room = File:New Bodicote House.jpg

| session_res =

| meeting_place = Bodicote House, White Post Road, Bodicote, Banbury, OX15{{nbsp}}4AA

| website = {{URL|http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/}}

}}

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.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|accessdate=3 March 2023}}

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:{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Cherwell" in search box to see specific results.){{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/38ub.stm | title = Cherwell | access-date = 2009-10-19 | work = BBC News Online | date=2008-04-19}}

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:

Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:{{cite news|title=Cherwell result Local Elections 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/england/councils/E07000177|website=BBC News |access-date=3 May 2024 |date=3 May 2024}}

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'.{{cite web |title=Your councillor by political grouping |url=https://modgov.cherwell.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=GROUPING&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |website=Cherwell District Council |access-date=15 July 2024}}

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,{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24341938.cherwell-district-council-now-run-liberal-democrat-green-set-up/|title=Cherwell District Council now run by Liberal Democrat and Green set-up|date=23 May 2024|access-date=23 May 2024|first1=Liam|last1=Rice|publisher=Oxford Mail}} ending a 24-year period of the Conservatives being in charge of the council.{{Cite web|url=https://banburyfm.com/news/liberal-democrats-take-charge-at-cherwell-district-council/|title=Liberal Democrats take charge at Cherwell District Council|date=23 May 2024|access-date=23 May 2024|publisher=Banbury FM Newsteam}}

The next election is due 7 May 2026.

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.{{NHLE|num=1248703|desc=Bodicote House, High Street, Bodicote|grade=II|access-date=24 April 2023}}{{cite news |title=Banbury Rural District Council: Removal of Council Offices |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=24 April 2023 |work=Banbury Guardian |date=27 November 1952 |page=4 |quote=...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...}} In 2023 the council announced plans to move its headquarters into the Castle Quay shopping centre in Banbury and sell the Bodicote House site.{{cite news |title=Bodicote House set to be demolished and replaced with housing |url=https://banburyfm.com/news/bodicote-house-set-to-be-demolished-and-replaced-with-housing/ |access-date=5 February 2024 |work=Banbury FM |date=2 February 2024}} The move, to 39 Castle Quay, took place on 31 March 2025.{{cite web |url=https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/news/article/1198/council-announces-office-move-date |title=Council announces office move date |date=18 March 2025 |access-date=9 April 2025 }}

{{main|Cherwell District Council 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.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Cherwell (Electoral Changes) Order 2015|year=2015|number=1872|access-date=18 May 2023}}

{{Infobox COA wide

|notes = Granted 21 March 2016

|escutcheon = Vert a Pale wavy Or thereon a Pale wavy Azure all between two Pallets Argent on each a Pallet Azure.

|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.

|motto = From Cherwell Flows Prosperity {{cite web|url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/south_central.html |title=Civic Heraldry of England |publisher=Robert Young |access-date=12 March 2019}}}}

File:Bicester Village - geograph.org.uk - 1828514.jpg, 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.

In terms of television, the area is served by BBC South and ITV Meridian broadcasting from the Oxford transmitter. {{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Oxford | title=Full Freeview on the Oxford (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter| date=May 2004 }} However, Banbury can also receive BBC West Midlands and ITV Central from the local relay transmitter which is transmitted via the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. {{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Bretch_Hill | title=Freeview Light on the Bretch Hill (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter| date=May 2004 }}

Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Oxford, Heart South, Capital Mid-Counties and Greatest Hits Radio.

Local newspapers are Banbury Guardian and Bicester Advertiser. {{cite web | url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-se/bicester-advertiser/ | title=Bicester Advertiser | British Newspapers Online | date=14 December 2013 }}

File:Cherwell population pyramid.svg

File:Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin (1), Church Street, Kidlington - geograph.org.uk - 2708201.jpg, the third-largest settlement in the district and one of the largest villages in England]]

• 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

• History of Banbury, Oxfordshire

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Oxfordshire}}

{{SE England}}

Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Oxfordshire