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

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. In 1962 the council was given the right to appoint a Lord Mayor.

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.

In early 2003, Oxford City Council submitted a bid to become a unitary authority.Oxford City Council: the case for unitary status, draft version, 18 January 2007. This was received by the Department for Communities and Local Government,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. but subsequently rejected.Communities and Local Government: rejection letter to Oxford City Council’s unitary authority bid.Communities and Local Government press release: Woolas announces sixteen successful bids for unitary status to improve local services, 27 March 2007., 27 March 2007.

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.One Oxfordshire, February 2017. In 2017, Oxford City Council voiced their opposition to the proposal,Oxford City Council website: Hands off Oxford City, February 2017. 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.

Political control The council has been under no overall control since 2023. Since then, it has been run by a Labour minority administration.

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: (Put "Oxford" in search box to see specific results.) Party in controlYears 1974–1976 1976–1980 1980–2000 2000–2002 2002–2004 2004–2010 2010–2023 2023–present

Leadership

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 Sep 1998 John Tanner Oct 1998 May 2000 Corinna Redman May 2000 May 2002 Alex Hollingsworth 13 May 2002 May 2006 John Goddard 18 May 2006May 2008 Bob Price 15 May 200829 Jan 2018 Susan Brown 29 Jan 2018

Composition Following the 2026 election, the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors 20 13 9 2 2Total 48

The next election is theoretically due in 2027 but the exact nature and timing of the election will be determined by proposed reforms to local government. Text in this article is derived from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

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. 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. In 2022 the council moved its offices back into the town hall.

Elections

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.

Councillors Oxford City Council is composed of the following councillors

Note that Councillors notionally subject to re-election post-2028 are likely to in fact complete their terms in 2028 due to anticipated local government reorganisation.

Ward Name Party Next Election First elected Barton and Sandhills Asima Qayyum 2028 2024 Barton and Sandhills Mike Rowley 2030 2010 (by-election) Blackbird Leys Lubna Arshad 2030 2018 (in Cowley Marsh) Blackbird Leys Linda Smith 2028 2014 (by-election) Carfax and Jericho Lizzie Diggins 2028 2021 Carfax and Jericho Sushila Dhall 2030 2004 (not continuously) Churchill Susan Brown 2030 2014 Churchill Mark Lygo 2028 2008 Cowley Ian Yeatman 2028 2024 Cowley Edward Mundy 2030 2021 (as Labour, in Holywell ward) Cuttleslowe and Sunnymead Andrew Gant 2028 2014 (in Summertown) Cuttleslowe and Sunnymead Laurence Fouweather 2030 2021 Donnington Rosie Rawle 2030 2022 Donnington Max Morris 2028 2024 Headington Mohammed Altaf-Khan 2028 2006 (in Headington Hill and Northway) Headington Christopher Smowton 2030 2021 Headington Hill and Northway James Taylor 2030 2025 (by-election) Headington Hill and Northway Nigel Chapman 2028 2016 Hinksey Park Siobhan Lancaster 2030 2026 Hinksey Park Anna Railton 2028 2022 (by-election) Holywell Dianne Regisford 2028 2024 Holywell Alfie Davis 2030 2026 Littlemore Anne Stares 2028 2024 Littlemore Tiago Jorge de Assis Caldeira Cruz Corais 2030 2018 Lye Valley Judith Harley 2028 2024 Lye Valley James Thorniley 2030 2026 Marston Mary Clarkson 2028 1998 Marston Kate Robinson 2030 2024 (by-election) Northfield Brook Trish Elphinstone 2030 2026 Northfield Brook Simon Ottino 2028 2024 Osney and St Thomas Susanna Pressel 2028 1996 Osney and St Thomas Lois Muddiman 2030 2022 Quarry and Risinghurst Roz Smith 2028 2018 Quarry and Risinghurst Chewe Munkonge 2030 2014 (by-election) Rose Hill and Iffley David Henwood 2028 2024 Rose Hill and Iffley Edward Turner 2030 2002 St Clement's Alex Powell 2028 2024 St Clement's Ahalya Bala 2030 2026 St Mary's Emily Kerr 2030 2022 St Mary's Chris Jarvis 2028 2021 Summertown Theodore Jupp 2028 2024 Summertown Katherine Miles 2030 2021 Temple Cowley Mohammed Azad 2028 2024 Temple Cowley Sajjad Malik 2030 2004 (as a Liberal Democrat; later Labour) Walton Manor Louise Upton 2030 2013 (by-election) Walton Manor James Fry 2028 2012 Wolvercote Steve Goddard 2028 1996 Wolvercote Elizabeth Turkson-Wood 2030 2026

Climate change

Oxford City Council became the first UK authority to divest from fossil fuel companies in September 2014.Climate change: how to make the big polluters really pay Naomi Klein The Guardian 17 October 2014

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.

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.

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.

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.

See also Oxford City Council elections Oxford Town Hall List of mayors of Oxford

References

External links Oxford City Council website