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{{Infobox legislature
{{Infobox legislature
| name = Oxfordshire County Council
| name = Oxfordshire County Council
| coa_pic = Oxfordshire county council coat of arms.jpg
| coa_pic = File:Arms_of_Oxfordshire_County_Council.svg
| coa_res = 150px
| coa_res = 150px
| logo_pic = Oxfordshire County Council.svg
| logo_pic = Oxfordshire County Council.svg
Line 10: Line 10:
| motto = ''Sapere aude'' (Dare to be wise)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/counties/england/oxfordshire.html |title=Camelot International, Britain's heritage and history |access-date=9 November 2011}}</ref>
| motto = ''Sapere aude'' (Dare to be wise)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/counties/england/oxfordshire.html |title=Camelot International, Britain's heritage and history |access-date=9 November 2011}}</ref>
| house_type = [[County council#United Kingdom|County council]]
| house_type = [[County council#United Kingdom|County council]]
| leader1_type = Chair of the council
| leader1_type = [[Chairperson|Chair]]
| leader1 = Cllr John Howson
| leader1 = Alison Rooke
| party1 = <!-- Non-political civic role -->
| party1 = <br>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| election1 = 21 May 2024<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manuschka |first1=Jacob |title=Abingdon councillor named Oxfordshire County Council chair |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24336077.abingdon-councillor-becomes-oxfordshire-county-council-chair/ |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=Oxford Mail |date=21 May 2024}}</ref>
| election1 = May 2021
| leader2_type = Leader of the Council
| leader2_type = [[Leader of the council|Leader]]
| leader2 = Cllr Liz Leffman
| leader2 = Liz Leffman
| party2 = Liberal Democrat
| party2 = <br>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| election2 = May 2021
| election2 = 18 May 2021
| leader3_type = Chief executive
| leader3_type = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3 = Yvonne Rees
| leader3 = Martin Reeves
| party3 =
| party3 = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3 = March 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Reeves |url=https://www.centreforcities.org/about/person/martin-reeves/ |website=Centre for Cities |access-date=25 April 2023}}</ref>
| election3 = 10 July 2018
| leader4_type =
| leader4 =
| party4 =
| election4 =
| leader5_type =
| leader5 =
| party5 =
| election5 =
| seats = 63 councillors
| seats = 63 councillors
| structure1 = File:Oxfordshire_County Council_2021_Updated.svg
| structure1 =
| structure1_res = 260
| structure1_res = 260
| structure1_alt = Oxfordshire County Council composition
| structure1_alt = Oxfordshire County Council composition
| political_groups1 = '''Administration (40)'''
| political_groups1 =
;Administration (23)
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] (21)}}
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] (20)}}
*{{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (16)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]] (3)
;Other parties (40)
*{{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] (3)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (19)
'''Opposition (23)'''
*{{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (21)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (14)
*{{Color box|#808080|border=darkgray}} [[Henley Residents Group]] (1)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (6)
*{{Color box|#FFFFF|border=darkgray}} [[Independent (Politician)|Independent]] (1)
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|#808080|border=darkgray}} [[Henley Residents Group|Henley Residents]] (1)}}
| term_length = 4 years
| term_length = 4 years
| voting_system1 = [[Plurality voting system|First past the post]]
| voting_system1 = [[Plurality voting system|First past the post]]
| last_election1 = [[2021 Oxfordshire County Council election|6 May 2021]]
| last_election1 = [[2021 Oxfordshire County Council election|6 May 2021]]
| next_election1 = [[2025 Oxfordshire County Council election|May 2025]]
| next_election1 = [[2025 Oxfordshire County Council election|1 May 2025]]
| session_room = County Hall, New Road, Oxford (geograph 2873245).jpg
| session_room = File:County Hall, Oxford.jpg
| session_alt = Old County Hall (in the foreground) with New County Hall (in the background)
| session_alt = County Hall (1841 original incorporating council chamber to right, 1973 office extension to left)
| session_res =
| session_res =
| meeting_place = [[County Hall, Oxford|County Hall]], [[New Road, Oxford]]
| meeting_place = [[County Hall, Oxford|County Hall]], [[New Road, Oxford]], OX1{{nbsp}}1ND
| website = {{URL|https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk}}
| website = {{URL|www.oxfordshire.gov.uk}}
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Oxfordshire County Council''' is the [[county council]] (upper-tier [[local authority]]) for the [[non-metropolitan county]] of [[Oxfordshire]] in the [[South East of England]]. Established in 1889, it is an elected body responsible for the most strategic [[local government]] services in the county.
'''Oxfordshire County Council''' is the [[county council]] (upper-tier [[local authority]]) for the [[non-metropolitan county]] of [[Oxfordshire]] in the [[South East of England]]. Established in 1889, it is an elected body responsible for most strategic [[local government]] services in the county.


Oxfordshire County Council provides a wide range of services, including education (schools, [[library|libraries]] and youth services), [[social services]], [[public health]], highway maintenance, waste disposal, emergency planning, consumer protection and [[town and country planning]] for matters to do with minerals, waste, highways and education.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/ |title=Council services |publisher=Oxfordshire County Council |access-date=30 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127015457/http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/ |archive-date=27 November 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> This makes it one of the largest employers in Oxfordshire, with a gross expenditure budget of £856.2 million in 2021–22.<ref>Your Council Tax Explained page 6, published by Oxfordshire County County March 2021</ref><ref>https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/file/council-tax-and-finance-spending/CouncilTaxleaflet2021-22.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>
Oxfordshire County Council provides a wide range of services, including education (schools, [[library|libraries]] and youth services), [[social services]], [[public health]], highway maintenance, waste disposal, emergency planning, consumer protection and [[town and country planning]] for matters to do with minerals, waste, highways and education.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/ |title=Council services |publisher=Oxfordshire County Council |access-date=30 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127015457/http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/ |archive-date=27 November 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> This makes it one of the largest employers in Oxfordshire, with a gross expenditure budget of £856.2 million in 2021–22.<ref>Your Council Tax Explained page 6, published by Oxfordshire County County March 2021</ref><ref>https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/file/council-tax-and-finance-spending/CouncilTaxleaflet2021-22.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>


== Composition ==
==History==
Elected county councils were first introduced in [[England and Wales]] in 1889 as a result of the [[Local Government Act 1888]], taking over administrative functions until then carried out by unelected [[magistrate]]s at the [[quarter sessions]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Edwards |editor-first=John |year=1955 |chapter=County |title=Chambers' Encyclopedia |place=London |publisher=[[George Newnes Ltd|George Newnes]] |pages=189–191}}</ref>
As of August 2021, the council composition is as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" valign="top" |Party
! valign="top" |Councillors
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|21*
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
|[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]
|21
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|16*
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}" |
|[[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]]
|3
|-
| bgcolor="#808080" |
|[[Henley Residents Group]]
|1
|-
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |
|[[Independent politician|Independent]]
|1
|}


The areas covered by county councils were termed [[administrative county|administrative counties]]. They were based on the [[historic counties of England|historic counties]] but subject to adjustments to ensure that each [[urban sanitary district]] was contained in a single administrative county, and excluding any boroughs considered large enough to run their own county-level functions, known as [[county borough]]s. In Oxfordshire's case, there were three urban sanitary districts which straddled the county boundary prior to 1889: [[Banbury]] was partly in [[Northamptonshire]], and [[Abingdon-on-Thames|Abingdon]] and [[Oxford]] both straddled the boundary between Oxfordshire and [[Berkshire]]. The county boundary was adjusted to place Banbury and Oxford entirely in Oxfordshire and Abingdon entirely in Berkshire.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pulling |first1=Alexander |title=A Handbook for County Authorities |date=1889 |publisher=William Clowes and Sons |location=London |page=17 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/A_Handbook_for_County_Authorities/L2JHAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA17&printsec=frontcover |access-date=11 December 2024}}</ref>
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Although the initial result was the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] on 22 seats, and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] on 15, there was a significant error in the Banbury Ruscote division where the Conservative and Labour votes were accidentally reversed and the Conservative candidate declared elected. An electoral challenge was launched by Labour and the result corrected to a Labour win.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19295285.banbury-labour-candidate-makes-legal-challenge-election-result/|title=Labour candidate makes legal challenge after election result|website=Oxford Mail}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-58172504 | title = Banbury councillor reappointed after Oxfordshire election result mix-up | date = 2021-08-12 | website = [[BBC News Online]] | access-date = 2021-08-13}}</ref>


The first elections were held in January 1889. Preliminary meetings were held during February and March 1889 at which several [[alderman|aldermen]] were elected. The council formally came into being on 1 April 1889, on which day it held its first official meeting at [[County Hall, Oxford|County Hall]] in Oxford, the courthouse which also served as the meeting place for the quarter sessions. [[Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey]], a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] peer, was appointed the first chairman of the county council.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oxfordshire County Council |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002094%2F18890406&page=5 |access-date=11 December 2024 |work=Witney Gazette |date=6 April 1889 |page=5}}</ref>
Following the 2021 election the Conservative Party lost seats primarily at the expense of Liberal Democrat gains including the Conservative leader Ian Hudspeth, who had served as leader since May 2012 and councillor since 2005,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Oxfordshire County Council|first=01865 792422|date=2021-05-09|title=Councillor details - Councillor Ian Hudspeth|url=https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=145|access-date=2021-05-09|website=mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk}}</ref> resulting in their worst performance in Oxfordshire since its inception in 1973. Likewise this was the highest number of seats the Liberal Democrats have held on this council.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oxfordshire County Council Election Results 1973-2009|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Oxfordshire-County.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=9 May 2021}}</ref> Liberal Democrat and Green councillors currently form a joint group known as [[Liberal Democrat Green Alliance]].<ref>https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=7573</ref>


The city of Oxford was initially included in the administrative county, but seven months later, on 9 November 1889, the city become a county borough, making it independent from the county council and removing it from the administrative county, whilst remaining part of the [[Ceremonial counties of England#Geographical counties 1889–1974|geographical county]] of Oxfordshire.<ref>{{cite book |title=Annual Report of the Local Government Board |date=1890 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |location=London |page=324 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lRUwAQAAMAAJ |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref>

==History==
County councils were first introduced in [[England and Wales]] with full powers from 22 September 1889 as a result of the [[Local Government Act 1888]], taking over administrative functions until then carried out by the unelected [[quarter sessions]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Edwards |editor-first=John |year=1955 |chapter=County |title=Chambers' Encyclopedia |place=London |publisher=[[George Newnes Ltd|George Newnes]] |pages=189–191}}</ref> The areas they covered were termed [[administrative county|administrative counties]] and were not in all cases identical to the [[Counties of the United Kingdom|traditional shire counties]], but in Oxfordshire the whole 'ceremonial county' came under the authority of the new council. The new system of local democracy was a significant development and reflected the increasing range of functions carried out by local government in late Victorian Britain.

The first elections to the new county council were held in January 1889. At the first meeting, several [[alderman|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.
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.


Local government was significantly reformed in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. Oxfordshire was redesignated as a [[non-metropolitan county]] and had its boundaries enlarged to gain an area between the [[River Thames]] and the [[Berkshire Downs]] hills which had previously been in Berkshire. The city of Oxford was also brought back under the county council's authority. The lower tier of local government was reorganised as part of the same reforms. Prior to 1974 it had comprised numerous [[municipal borough|boroughs]], [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban districts]] and [[rural district]]s. After 1974 the lower tier within the redefined Oxfordshire comprised five [[non-metropolitan district]]s: [[Cherwell (district)|Cherwell]], [[Oxford City Council|Oxford]], [[South Oxfordshire]], [[Vale of White Horse]], and [[West Oxfordshire]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The England Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref>
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 [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]] and [[rural district]] councils. In 1974, local government was reorganized in England and Wales generally, and Oxfordshire was enlarged to take in areas previously in [[Berkshire]]. Within its new area dozens of former urban and rural districts were amalgamated into one city council, that of [[Oxford City Council|Oxford]], and four district councils: [[Cherwell District|Cherwell]], [[South Oxfordshire District Council|South Oxfordshire]], the [[Vale of White Horse District Council|Vale of White Horse]], and [[West Oxfordshire]].


==Political control==
The council has been under [[no overall control]] since the [[2021 Oxfordshire County Council election|2021 election]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-09|title=Councillor details - Councillor Ian Hudspeth|url=https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=145|access-date=2021-05-09|website=mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Seaward |first1=Tom |title=Labour quits coalition running Oxfordshire County Council |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23810208.labour-quits-coalition-running-oxfordshire-county-council/ |access-date=16 December 2023 |work=Oxford Mail |date=24 September 2023}}</ref>


Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{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 "Oxfordshire" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Oxfordshire County Council Election Results 1973-2009|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Oxfordshire-County.pdf|access-date=9 May 2021}}</ref>


=== 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) on the "first past the post" system. Until the 1970s, the elected members chose [[alderman|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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Padfield |first=Colin Frank |year=1975 |title=British constitution made simple |place=London |publisher=[[W. H. Allen & Co.]] |page=291}}</ref>

===History of political control===
{{Main|Oxfordshire County Council elections}}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! colspan=2| Control
|-
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
| [[1973 United Kingdom local elections|1973]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1974–1985
| [[1977 United Kingdom local elections|1977]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1985–2005
| [[1981 United Kingdom local elections|1981]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2005–2013
| [[1985 United Kingdom local elections|1985]]
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}}
|-
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2013–present
| [[1989 United Kingdom local elections|1989]]
|}
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}}

===Leadership===
The [[Leader of the council|leaders of the council]] since 2001 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
|-
| Keith Mitchell<ref>{{cite news |title=Oxfordshire Conservatives elect Ian Hudspeth new leader |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-17863353 |access-date=11 December 2024 |work=BBC News |date=26 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Keith Mitchell: Tributes paid to 'towering' council leader |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-53947297 |access-date=11 December 2024 |work=BBC News |date=28 August 2020}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|2001 || align=right|May 2012
| [[1993 United Kingdom local elections|1993]]
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}}
|-
|-
| Ian Hudspeth<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 15 May 2012 |url=https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=116&MId=3144 |website=Oxfordshire County Council |access-date=11 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lynch |first1=David |title=Elections 2021: Oxfordshire left without a ruling majority party |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19290261.elections-2021-oxfordshire-left-without-ruling-majority-party/ |access-date=11 December 2024 |work=Oxford Mail |date=10 May 2021}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|15 May 2012 || align=right|May 2021
| [[1997 United Kingdom local elections|1997]]
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}}
|-
|-
| Liz Leffman<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 18 May 2021 |url=https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=116&MId=6489 |website=Oxfordshire County Council |access-date=11 December 2024}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|18 May 2021 ||
| [[2001 United Kingdom local elections|2001]]
|}
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}}

=== Composition ===
Following the [[2021 Oxfordshire County Council election|2021 election]] and by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of the council was:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! colspan="2" |Party !! Councillors
| [[2005 Oxfordshire County Council election|2005]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|-
| {{party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=center|20
| [[2009 Oxfordshire County Council election|2009]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|-
| {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=center|19
| [[2013 Oxfordshire County Council election|2013]]
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}}
|-
|-
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=center|14
| [[2017 Oxfordshire County Council election|2017]]
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}}
|-
|-
| {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=center|6
| [[2021 Oxfordshire County Council election|2021]]
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}}
| {{party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}} || align=center|3
|-
| {{party name with colour|Henley Residents Group}} || align=center|1
|-
! colspan="2" |Total:
!63
|}
|}
One of the independent councillors sits in a group with the Conservatives. Two of the independents and the Henley Residents Group councillor sit together as the 'Independent Voice of Oxfordshire' group. The other three independents are not aligned to a group.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oxfordshire |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=oxfordshire |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=15 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Your councillors by party |url=https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=PARTY |website=Oxfordshire County Council |access-date=16 December 2023}}</ref> The next election is due in [[2025 Oxfordshire County Council election|2025]].


===Past Chairs===
== Elections ==
[[File:OxfordshireChairs1889to1974.jpg|thumb|Oxfordshire County Council Chairs, 1889 to 1974]]
{{Main|Oxfordshire County Council 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 [[alderman|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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Padfield |first=Colin Frank |year=1975 |title=British constitution made simple |place=London |publisher=[[W. H. Allen & Co.]] |page=291}}</ref>
[[File:OxfordshireChairs1991to2005.jpg|thumb|Oxfordshire County Council Chairs, 1991 to 2005]]
*Catherine Fulljames (2005–2006)
*Lesley Legge (2006–2007)<ref>{{cite web|title=A mother of three who used to teach maths in south Oxfordshire becomes Chairman|publisher=Oxford Mail|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/731497.New_county_council_chairman/|date=13 April 2006| accessdate= 17 October 2016}}</ref>
*Don Seale (2012–2013)<ref>{{cite web|title=Sixteen years as County Councillor after career in military|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk–england–oxfordshire–35204427}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/news/2015/dec/former–councillor–don–seale–0|title=Former Councillor Don Seale|date=1 December 2015|accessdate= 16 October 2016}}</ref>
*Anne Purse (2014–2015)<ref name="auto"/>
*John Sanders (2015–2016)<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Cowley's John Sanders elected as Oxfordshire County Council chairman|publisher=Oxford Mail|date=19 May 2015|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/12958881.cowleys–john–sanders–elected–as–oxfordshire–county–council–chairman/}}</ref>
* Michael Waine (2016–2017)<ref>{{cite web|title=Oxfordshire County Council presents its annual rose bush rent to the Earth Trust|publisher=Oxford Mail|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/14581018.oxfordshire–county–council–presents–its–annual–rose–bush–rent–to–the–earth–trust/}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Busy Evening|publisher=Bicester Advertiser|date=1 December 1972}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The youngest chairman|publisher=Bicester Advertiser|year=1972}}</ref>
* Zoe Patrick (2017–2018)<ref>{{cite web|title=Hundreds of youngsters enjoy evening of sports in the high street|publisher=Thame Gazette|url=https://www.thametoday.co.uk/news/hundreds–of–youngsters–enjoy–evening–of–sports–in–the–high–street–1–8030348/amp}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chairman or chairwoman?' row breaks out at council|publisher=Oxford Mail|date=14 February 2018|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/15993708.chairman–or–chairwoman–row–breaks–out–at–council/}}</ref>
* Gill Sanders (2018–2019)<ref>{{cite web|title=New Chair Elected|date=15 May 2018|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/news_bites/16226897.new–chair–elected/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New chair of county council relishing ceremonial role|publisher=Oxford Mail|date=16 May 2018|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/16229293.new–chair–of–county–council–relishing–ceremonial–role/}}</ref>
* Les Sibley (2019–2020)<ref>{{cite web|title=Jericho house where Chinese author Chiang Yee given refuge gets blue plaque|publisher=Oxford Times|url=https://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/17743938.jericho–house–where–chinese–author–chiang–yee–given–refuge–gets–blue–plaque/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Oxfordshire County Council independents agree 'Alliance' with Conservatives|publisher=BBC News|date=11 May 2013|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk–england–oxfordshire–22492336}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Party 'dumps' town Stalwart|publisher=Oxford Mail|date= 13 April 2013|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10353321.party–dumps–town–stalwart/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Bicester Village station set to bring influx of shoppers and visitors to town|publisher=Bournemouth Echo|date=27 October 2015|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/13897426.amp/}}</ref>


Since the last boundary changes in 2013, the council has comprised 63 [[councillor]]s representing 61 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral divisions]]. Most divisions elect one councillor, but two (Thame & Chinnor and Grove & Wantage) elect two councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2012|year=2012|number=1812|access-date=15 July 2024}}</ref>
== Meat & Dairy Ban Controversy ==

In 2021, the LibDem/Green/Labour administration moved a motion at Full Council to serve only [[Plant-based diet|plant-based]] ([[vegan]]) meals at all council-catered events and meetings plus [[Vegan school meal|vegan school meals]] in the primary schools on two days a week as part of its climate change action policy.<ref>https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=25089</ref> The move was unsuccessfully fought by the Conservative opposition. This policy was controversial and drew protests from livestock farmers and TV presenter [[Jeremy Clarkson]], who owns a farm in the county.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-15 |title=Jeremy Clarkson fails to stop Oxfordshire council vegan switch |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-60749093 |access-date=2022-03-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=APPROVED: County council will now serve vegan food at meetings and school lunches |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19993932.oxfordshire-county-council-votes-serve-vegan-food-meetings/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=Oxford Mail |language=en}}</ref> As a result of the controversy, when the motion came to the council's Cabinet for ratification in March 2022, the proposals were scaled back to cover just seven council meetings and school meals only one day a week.<ref>https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/documents/s59862/CA_MAR1522R06%20Plant%20Based%20Food%20Cabinet%20Paper%20final%20002.pdf</ref>
==Premises==
[[File:Register Office, 1 Tidmarsh Lane, Oxford.jpg|thumb|County Offices (now the Register Office), 1 Tidmarsh Lane: Council's main offices 1912–1973]]
The council is based at [[County Hall, Oxford|County Hall]] on New Road in Oxford. The old part of the building was a courthouse built in 1841, which had served as the meeting place of the [[quarter sessions]] which preceded the county council. In 1912 a new building called County Offices was built at the corner of New Road and Tidmarsh Lane to provide the council's offices; meetings continued to be held at County Hall.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oxfordshire County Council: County Offices |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=23 November 2022 |work=Oxford Journal |date=11 January 1911 |page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Graham |first1=Malcolm |title=Oxford Heritage Walks Book 4 |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford Preservation Trust |location=Oxford |page=29 |url=https://www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/sites/www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/files/Book%204%20-%20footnoted%20text%20MG_0.pdf |access-date=23 November 2022}}</ref>

The County Offices were replaced in 1973 when a large extension was added to the 1841 County Hall, bringing the council's main offices and meeting place onto the same site.<ref name=listed>{{NHLE|desc=County hall with the curving screen walls and turretts on either side|num=1047201|access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref>


==Notable members==
==Notable members==
[[File:OxfordshireChairs1889to1974.jpg|thumb|Oxfordshire County Council Chairs, 1889 to 1974]]
*Sir [[Jervoise Athelstane Baines]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CSI|FRGS}}, member 1917&ndash;22, later [[Indian Civil Service]] administrator
[[File:OxfordshireChairs1991to2005.jpg|thumb|Oxfordshire County Council Chairs, 1991 to 2005]]

*Sir [[Jervoise Athelstane Baines]], member 1917&ndash;22, later [[Indian Civil Service]] administrator
*[[Jonathan Baume]], member 1974&ndash;77, trade unionist
*[[Jonathan Baume]], member 1974&ndash;77, trade unionist
*[[Catherine Bearder]] [[MEPs|MEP]], member
*[[Catherine Bearder]] [[MEPs|MEP]], member
Line 176: Line 139:
*[[William Bradshaw, Baron Bradshaw]], member 1993&ndash;2008<ref>'BRADSHAW, Baron
*[[William Bradshaw, Baron Bradshaw]], member 1993&ndash;2008<ref>'BRADSHAW, Baron
cr 1999 (Life Peer), of Wallingford in the county of Oxfordshire', in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U8490 online edition] (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 30 November 2011</ref>
cr 1999 (Life Peer), of Wallingford in the county of Oxfordshire', in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U8490 online edition] (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 30 November 2011</ref>
*[[Peter Butler (politician)|Peter Butler]], member 1985&ndash;89, later Member of Parliament for [[Milton Keynes North East]]<ref>'BUTLER, Peter', in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U9686 online edition] (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 30 November 2011</ref>
*[[Peter Butler (politician)|Peter Butler]], member 1985&ndash;89, later Member of Parliament for [[North East Milton Keynes (UK Parliament constituency)|North East Milton Keynes]]<ref>'BUTLER, Peter', in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U9686 online edition] (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 30 November 2011</ref>
*[[Sherman Stonor, 6th Baron Camoys]], member<ref>'CAMOYS, 6th Baron' in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U152919 online edition] (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 1 December 2011</ref>
*[[Sherman Stonor, 6th Baron Camoys]], member<ref>'CAMOYS, 6th Baron' in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U152919 online edition] (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 1 December 2011</ref>
*[[Julia Drown]], member 1989&ndash;96, later Member of Parliament for Swindon South<ref>'DROWN, Julia Kate' in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U14149 online edition] (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 1 December 2011</ref>
*[[Julia Drown]], member 1989&ndash;96, later Member of Parliament for [[South Swindon (UK Parliament constituency)|South Swindon]]<ref>'DROWN, Julia Kate' in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U14149 online edition] (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 1 December 2011</ref>
*[[Michael Patrick Fogarty]], member 1981&ndash;89, academic
*[[Michael Patrick Fogarty]], member 1981&ndash;89, academic
*[[Olive Gibbs]], chairman 1974&ndash;1975 and 1981&ndash;1982
*[[Olive Gibbs]], chairman 1974&ndash;1975 and 1981&ndash;1982
*[[Simon Hoare]] MP, member
*[[Simon Hoare]], member, later Member of Parliament for [[North Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|North Dorset]]
*[[John Howell (politician)|John Howell]], member 2004&ndash;09, later Member of Parliament<ref>'HOWELL, John Michael' in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U247248 online edition] (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, accessed 1 December 2011</ref>
*[[John Howell (politician)|John Howell]], member 2004&ndash;09, later Member of Parliament for [[Henley (UK Parliament constituency)|Henley]]<ref>'HOWELL, John Michael' in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U247248 online edition] (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, accessed 1 December 2011</ref>
*[[Caroline Lucas]], member 1993&ndash;97, later Member of Parliament for [[Brighton Pavilion]]
*[[Caroline Lucas]], member 1993&ndash;97, later Member of Parliament for [[Brighton Pavilion (UK Parliament constituency)|Brighton Pavilion]]
*[[George Parker, 7th Earl of Macclesfield]], chairman 1937&ndash;70<ref>'MACCLESFIELD, 7th Earl of', in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who Was Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U156958, online edition] (subscription required) by [[Oxford University Press]], December 2007, accessed 30 November 2011</ref>
*[[George Parker, 7th Earl of Macclesfield]], chairman 1937&ndash;70<ref>'MACCLESFIELD, 7th Earl of', in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who Was Who]]'' (London: A. & C. Black); [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U156958, online edition] (subscription required) by [[Oxford University Press]], December 2007, accessed 30 November 2011</ref>
*[[James Plaskitt]], member 1985&ndash;97, later [[Member of Parliament]]
*[[James Plaskitt]], member 1985&ndash;97, later Member of Parliament for [[Warwick and Leamington (UK Parliament constituency)|Warwick and Leamington]]
*[[Geoffrey Somerset, 6th Baron Raglan]], member 1988–1993
*[[Geoffrey Somerset, 6th Baron Raglan]], member 1988–1993
*[[John Redwood]], member 1973&ndash;77, later Member of Parliament for [[Wokingham]]
*[[John Redwood]], member 1973&ndash;77, later Member of Parliament for [[Wokingham (UK Parliament constituency)|Wokingham]]
*[[Larry Sanders (politician)|Larry Sanders]], member 2005&ndash;13, Green Party Spokesperson for Health and brother of [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] [[Bernie Sanders]]
*[[Larry Sanders (politician)|Larry Sanders]], member 2005&ndash;13, Green Party Spokesperson for Health and brother of [[United States Senator|US Senator]] [[Bernie Sanders]]


== Meat and dairy ban controversy ==
===Notable candidates===
In 2021, the Liberal Democrat/Green/Labour administration moved a motion at Full Council to serve only [[Plant-based diet|plant-based]] ([[vegan]]) meals at all council-catered events and meetings, and [[vegan school meal]]s in primary schools two days a week as part of its climate change action policy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=25089|title = Agenda item - Motion by Councillor Ian Middleton|date = 14 December 2021}}</ref> The move was unsuccessfully fought by the Conservative opposition. This policy was controversial and drew protests from livestock farmers and TV presenter [[Jeremy Clarkson]], who owns a farm in the county.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-15 |title=Jeremy Clarkson fails to stop Oxfordshire council vegan switch |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-60749093 |access-date=2022-03-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=APPROVED: County council will now serve vegan food at meetings and school lunches |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19993932.oxfordshire-county-council-votes-serve-vegan-food-meetings/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=Oxford Mail |date=15 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref> As a result of the controversy, when the motion came to the council's Cabinet for ratification in March 2022, the proposals were scaled back to cover just seven council meetings and school meals only one day a week.<ref>https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/documents/s59862/CA_MAR1522R06%20Plant%20Based%20Food%20Cabinet%20Paper%20final%20002.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> In November 2022, the Conservatives unsuccessfully sought to cancel vegan meals at council-catered events, which cost £6,000 annually and are purchased from a Kidlington business which sources food from Woodstock.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harland |first=Gee |title='Plans to scrap vegan lunches at Oxfordshire Council fail' |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23097249.plans-scrap-vegan-lunches-oxfordshire-council-fail/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=Oxford Mail |date=3 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Leo Docherty]] MP, Conservative candidate 2017
*[[Dillie Keane]], Liberal Democrat candidate 2017, singer


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 13:31, 11 December 2024

Oxfordshire County Council
Coat of arms or logo
Logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Alison Rooke,
Liberal Democrat
since 21 May 2024[1]
Liz Leffman,
Liberal Democrat
since 18 May 2021
Martin Reeves
since March 2023[2]
Structure
Seats63 councillors
Political groups
Administration (23)
  Liberal Democrats (20)
  Green (3)
Other parties (40)
  Conservative (19)
  Labour (14)
  Independent (6)
  Henley Residents (1)
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 (1841 original incorporating council chamber to right, 1973 office extension to left)
County Hall, New Road, Oxford, OX1 1ND
Website
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Oxfordshire County Council is the county council (upper-tier local authority) for the non-metropolitan county of Oxfordshire in the South East of England. Established in 1889, it is an elected body responsible for most strategic local government services in the county.

Oxfordshire County Council provides a wide range of services, including education (schools, libraries and youth services), social services, public health, highway maintenance, waste disposal, emergency planning, consumer protection and town and country planning for matters to do with minerals, waste, highways and education.[4] This makes it one of the largest employers in Oxfordshire, with a gross expenditure budget of £856.2 million in 2021–22.[5][6]

History

[edit]

Elected county councils were first introduced in England and Wales in 1889 as a result of the Local Government Act 1888, taking over administrative functions until then carried out by unelected magistrates at the quarter sessions.[7]

The areas covered by county councils were termed administrative counties. They were based on the historic counties but subject to adjustments to ensure that each urban sanitary district was contained in a single administrative county, and excluding any boroughs considered large enough to run their own county-level functions, known as county boroughs. In Oxfordshire's case, there were three urban sanitary districts which straddled the county boundary prior to 1889: Banbury was partly in Northamptonshire, and Abingdon and Oxford both straddled the boundary between Oxfordshire and Berkshire. The county boundary was adjusted to place Banbury and Oxford entirely in Oxfordshire and Abingdon entirely in Berkshire.[8]

The first elections were held in January 1889. Preliminary meetings were held during February and March 1889 at which several aldermen were elected. The council formally came into being on 1 April 1889, on which day it held its first official meeting at County Hall in Oxford, the courthouse which also served as the meeting place for the quarter sessions. Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey, a Conservative peer, was appointed the first chairman of the county council.[9]

The city of Oxford was initially included in the administrative county, but seven months later, on 9 November 1889, the city become a county borough, making it independent from the county council and removing it from the administrative county, whilst remaining part of the geographical county of Oxfordshire.[10]

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.

Local government was significantly reformed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. Oxfordshire was redesignated as a non-metropolitan county and had its boundaries enlarged to gain an area between the River Thames and the Berkshire Downs hills which had previously been in Berkshire. The city of Oxford was also brought back under the county council's authority. The lower tier of local government was reorganised as part of the same reforms. Prior to 1974 it had comprised numerous boroughs, urban districts and rural districts. After 1974 the lower tier within the redefined Oxfordshire comprised five non-metropolitan districts: Cherwell, Oxford, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, and West Oxfordshire.[11]

Political control

[edit]

The council has been under no overall control since the 2021 election.[12] 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.[13]

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:[14][15]

Party in control Years
Conservative 1974–1985
No overall control 1985–2005
Conservative 2005–2013
No overall control 2013–present

Leadership

[edit]

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:

Councillor Party From To
Keith Mitchell[16][17] Conservative 2001 May 2012
Ian Hudspeth[18][19] Conservative 15 May 2012 May 2021
Liz Leffman[20] Liberal Democrats 18 May 2021

Composition

[edit]

Following the 2021 election and by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors
Liberal Democrats 20
Conservative 19
Labour 14
Independent 6
Green 3
Henley Residents 1
Total: 63

One of the independent councillors sits in a group with the Conservatives. Two of the independents and the Henley Residents Group councillor sit together as the 'Independent Voice of Oxfordshire' group. The other three independents are not aligned to a group.[21][22] The next election is due in 2025.

Elections

[edit]
Main article: Oxfordshire County Council 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.[23]

Since the last boundary changes in 2013, the council has comprised 63 councillors representing 61 electoral divisions. Most divisions elect one councillor, but two (Thame & Chinnor and Grove & Wantage) elect two councillors. Elections are held every four years.[24]

Premises

[edit]
County Offices (now the Register Office), 1 Tidmarsh Lane: Council's main offices 1912–1973

The council is based at County Hall on New Road in Oxford. The old part of the building was a courthouse built in 1841, which had served as the meeting place of the quarter sessions which preceded the county council. In 1912 a new building called County Offices was built at the corner of New Road and Tidmarsh Lane to provide the council's offices; meetings continued to be held at County Hall.[25][26]

The County Offices were replaced in 1973 when a large extension was added to the 1841 County Hall, bringing the council's main offices and meeting place onto the same site.[27]

Notable members

[edit]
Oxfordshire County Council Chairs, 1889 to 1974
Oxfordshire County Council Chairs, 1991 to 2005

Meat and dairy ban controversy

[edit]

In 2021, the Liberal Democrat/Green/Labour administration moved a motion at Full Council to serve only plant-based (vegan) meals at all council-catered events and meetings, and vegan school meals in primary schools two days a week as part of its climate change action policy.[35] The move was unsuccessfully fought by the Conservative opposition. This policy was controversial and drew protests from livestock farmers and TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who owns a farm in the county.[36][37] As a result of the controversy, when the motion came to the council's Cabinet for ratification in March 2022, the proposals were scaled back to cover just seven council meetings and school meals only one day a week.[38] In November 2022, the Conservatives unsuccessfully sought to cancel vegan meals at council-catered events, which cost £6,000 annually and are purchased from a Kidlington business which sources food from Woodstock.[39]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Manuschka, Jacob (21 May 2024). "Abingdon councillor named Oxfordshire County Council chair". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Martin Reeves". Centre for Cities. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Camelot International, Britain's heritage and history". Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Council services". Oxfordshire County Council. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  5. ^ Your Council Tax Explained page 6, published by Oxfordshire County County March 2021
  6. ^ https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/file/council-tax-and-finance-spending/CouncilTaxleaflet2021-22.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  7. ^ Edwards, John, ed. (1955). "County". Chambers' Encyclopedia. London: George Newnes. pp. 189–191.
  8. ^ Pulling, Alexander (1889). A Handbook for County Authorities. London: William Clowes and Sons. p. 17. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Oxfordshire County Council". Witney Gazette. 6 April 1889. p. 5. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  10. ^ Annual Report of the Local Government Board. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1890. p. 324. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  11. ^ "The England Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 20 July 2024
  12. ^ "Councillor details - Councillor Ian Hudspeth". mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  13. ^ Seaward, Tom (24 September 2023). "Labour quits coalition running Oxfordshire County Council". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 26 November 2024. (Put "Oxfordshire" in search box to see specific results.)
  15. ^ "Oxfordshire County Council Election Results 1973-2009" (PDF). Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Oxfordshire Conservatives elect Ian Hudspeth new leader". BBC News. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  17. ^ "Keith Mitchell: Tributes paid to 'towering' council leader". BBC News. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Council minutes, 15 May 2012". Oxfordshire County Council. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  19. ^ Lynch, David (10 May 2021). "Elections 2021: Oxfordshire left without a ruling majority party". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  20. ^ "Council minutes, 18 May 2021". Oxfordshire County Council. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Oxfordshire". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Your councillors by party". Oxfordshire County Council. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  23. ^ Padfield, Colin Frank (1975). British constitution made simple. London: W. H. Allen & Co. p. 291.
  24. ^ "The Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2012", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2012/1812, retrieved 15 July 2024
  25. ^ "Oxfordshire County Council: County Offices". Oxford Journal. 11 January 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  26. ^ Graham, Malcolm (2016). Oxford Heritage Walks Book 4 (PDF). Oxford: Oxford Preservation Trust. p. 29. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  27. ^ Historic England. "County hall with the curving screen walls and turretts on either side (1047201)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  28. ^ 'BILLINGHAM, Baroness', in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 1 December 2011
  29. ^ '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
  30. ^ 'BUTLER, Peter', in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 30 November 2011
  31. ^ '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
  32. ^ '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
  33. ^ 'HOWELL, John Michael' in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, accessed 1 December 2011
  34. ^ '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
  35. ^ "Agenda item - Motion by Councillor Ian Middleton". 14 December 2021.
  36. ^ "Jeremy Clarkson fails to stop Oxfordshire council vegan switch". BBC News. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  37. ^ "APPROVED: County council will now serve vegan food at meetings and school lunches". Oxford Mail. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  38. ^ https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/documents/s59862/CA_MAR1522R06%20Plant%20Based%20Food%20Cabinet%20Paper%20final%20002.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  39. ^ Harland, Gee (3 November 2022). "'Plans to scrap vegan lunches at Oxfordshire Council fail'". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
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