Oxfordshire County Council
Oxfordshire County Council | ||
---|---|---|
Chief Executive | Martin Reeves since March 2023[2] | |
Structure | ||
Seats | 63 councillors | |
Political groups |
| |
Length of term | 4 years | |
Elections | ||
First past the post | ||
Last election | 6 May 2021 | |
Next election | 1 May 2025 | |
Motto | ||
Sapere aude (Dare to be wise)[3] | ||
Meeting place | ||
County Hall, New Road, Oxford, OX1 1ND | ||
Website | ||
www |
Oxfordshire County Council is the
Oxfordshire County Council provides a wide range of services, including education (schools,
History
County councils were first introduced in
The first elections to the new county council were held in January 1889. At the first meeting, several aldermen were elected.
Schools (both primary and secondary) were added to the County Council's responsibilities in 1902, and until the 1990s it was also responsible for operating Colleges of Further Education.
Oxfordshire County Council has seen a changing pattern of lower-tier authorities existing alongside it within its area, responsible for more local services, such as housing and waste collection. Until 1974, the county had a large number of
Political control
The council has been under no overall control since the 2021 election.[9] Following that election a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Greens formed to run the council, led by Liberal Democrat councillor Liz Leffman. Labour withdrew from the coalition in September 2023, since when a Liberal Democrat–Green Party alliance has been running the council as a minority administration.[10]
Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:[11][12]
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Conservative | 1974–1985 | |
No overall control | 1985–2005 | |
Conservative | 2005–2013 | |
No overall control | 2013–present |
Leadership
The
Councillor | Party | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Keith Mitchell | Conservative | 2001 | 15 May 2012 | |
Ian Hudspeth | Conservative | 15 May 2012 | 9 May 2021 | |
Liz Leffman | Liberal Democrats | 18 May 2021 |
Composition
Following the 2021 election and by-elections and changes of allegiance up to December 2023, the composition of the council was:
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Conservative | 21 | |
Liberal Democrats | 20 | |
Labour | 14 | |
Independent | 4 | |
Green | 3 | |
Henley Residents | 1 | |
Total: | 63 |
One of the independent councillors sits in a group with the Conservatives. The other three independents and the Henley Residents Group councillor do not sit in any groups.[14] The next election is due in 2025.
Elections
Since 1889, members have been elected for a term of office, with elections held all together (initially every three years, later every four years) by the "first past the post" system. Until the 1970s, the elected members chose aldermen, whose term of office was for six years, and who once appointed were also voting members of the council. This form of membership was ended by the Local Government Act 1972, so that after 1974 only honorary (that is, non-voting) aldermen could be appointed.[15]
Premises
The council is based at
Notable members
- Sir Jervoise Athelstane Baines, member 1917–22, later Indian Civil Service administrator
- Jonathan Baume, member 1974–77, trade unionist
- MEP, member
- Angela Billingham, member 1993–94, later Baroness Billingham[17]
- William Bradshaw, Baron Bradshaw, member 1993–2008[18]
- Peter Butler, member 1985–89, later Member of Parliament for North East Milton Keynes[19]
- Sherman Stonor, 6th Baron Camoys, member[20]
- Julia Drown, member 1989–96, later Member of Parliament for South Swindon[21]
- Michael Patrick Fogarty, member 1981–89, academic
- Olive Gibbs, chairman 1974–1975 and 1981–1982
- Simon Hoare, member, later Member of Parliament for North Dorset
- John Howell, member 2004–09, later Member of Parliament for Henley[22]
- Caroline Lucas, member 1993–97, later Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion
- George Parker, 7th Earl of Macclesfield, chairman 1937–70[23]
- James Plaskitt, member 1985–97, later Member of Parliament for Warwick and Leamington
- Geoffrey Somerset, 6th Baron Raglan, member 1988–1993
- John Redwood, member 1973–77, later Member of Parliament for Wokingham
- US Senator Bernie Sanders
Meat and dairy ban controversy
In 2021, the Liberal Democrat/Green/Labour administration moved a motion at Full Council to serve only
See also
Notes
- ^ "Councillor Felix Bloomfield becomes new Chair of Oxfordshire County Council". Oxfordshire County Council. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "Martin Reeves". Centre for Cities. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Camelot International, Britain's heritage and history". Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- ^ "Council services". Oxfordshire County Council. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
- ^ Your Council Tax Explained page 6, published by Oxfordshire County County March 2021
- ^ https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/file/council-tax-and-finance-spending/CouncilTaxleaflet2021-22.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ Edwards, John, ed. (1955). "County". Chambers' Encyclopedia. London: George Newnes. pp. 189–191.
- ^ Annual Report of the Local Government Board. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1890. p. 324. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Councillor details - Councillor Ian Hudspeth". mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ Seaward, Tom (24 September 2023). "Labour quits coalition running Oxfordshire County Council". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "Oxfordshire County Council Election Results 1973-2009" (PDF). Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "Council minutes". Oxfordshire County Council. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- ^ "Your councillors by party". Oxfordshire County Council. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Padfield, Colin Frank (1975). British constitution made simple. London: W. H. Allen & Co. p. 291.
- ^ Historic England. "County hall with the curving screen walls and turretts on either side (1047201)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ 'BILLINGHAM, Baroness', in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 1 December 2011
- ^ 'BRADSHAW, Baron cr 1999 (Life Peer), of Wallingford in the county of Oxfordshire', in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 30 November 2011
- ^ 'BUTLER, Peter', in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 30 November 2011
- ^ 'CAMOYS, 6th Baron' in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 1 December 2011
- ^ 'DROWN, Julia Kate' in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 1 December 2011
- ^ 'HOWELL, John Michael' in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, accessed 1 December 2011
- ^ 'MACCLESFIELD, 7th Earl of', in Who Was Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 30 November 2011
- ^ "Agenda item - Motion by Councillor Ian Middleton". 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Jeremy Clarkson fails to stop Oxfordshire council vegan switch". BBC News. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ "APPROVED: County council will now serve vegan food at meetings and school lunches". Oxford Mail. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/documents/s59862/CA_MAR1522R06%20Plant%20Based%20Food%20Cabinet%20Paper%20final%20002.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ Harland, Gee (3 November 2022). "'Plans to scrap vegan lunches at Oxfordshire Council fail'". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 4 November 2022.