Oxfordshire County Council

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

Oxfordshire County Council
Type
Type
Leadership
Chair of the council
Cllr Les Sibley
since May 2019
Leader of the Council
Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Conservative
since April 2012
Chief executive
Yvonne Rees
since 10 July 2018
Structure
Seats63 councillors
Political groups
Administration (33)
  Conservative (30)
  Independent Conservative Alliance (3)
Opposition (30)
  Labour (14)
  Liberal Democrat (13)
  Independent (2)
  Green Party (1)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First past the post
Last election
4 May 2017
Next election
6 May 2021
Motto
Sapere aude (Dare to be wise)[1]
Meeting place
County Hall, New Road, Oxford
Website
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

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.[2] The areas they covered were termed administrative counties and were not in all cases identical to the 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 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 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, and four district councils: Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, the Vale of White Horse, and West Oxfordshire.

Functions

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.[3] This makes it one of the largest employers in Oxfordshire, with an annual budget of £899 million in 2013–14.[4]

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 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.[5]

Composition

As of May 2020, the council composition is as follows:

Party Councillors
Conservative 30
Labour 14
Liberal Democrats 13
Independent Conservative Alliance 3
Independent 2
Green Party 1

The Conservative Party on 30 seats is short of an overall majority on the Council of 63, as 32 seats are required for a majority. Three of the five independent councillors have formed an Alliance with the Conservatives to give them a working majority. The other two independent councillors sit in opposition to the Conservatives alongside the Labour, Liberal Democrats and Green councillors.

2017 election

The council currently consists of sixty-three county councillors and no party has overall control. The Conservative Party has thirty-one members, with fourteen Labour, thirteen Liberal Democrats, four Independents and one Henley Residents Group member.[6]

Oxfordshire County Council election, 2017[7]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 31 3 3 0 49.2 41.3 80,438 +14.7
  Labour 14 2 3 1 22.2 22.2 43,172 7.3
  Liberal Democrats 13 2 0 +2 20.6 24.5 47,799 2.9
  Independent 4 0 0 0 6.4 3.4 6,689 +3.4
  Henley Residents Group 1 1 0 +1 6.4 0.9 1,747 +1.1
  Green 0 0 2 2 0 7.2 13,978 1.8
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 1,056 14.4

The next election will be held on 6 May 2021.

History of political control

Year Control
1973 Conservative
1977 Conservative
1981 Conservative
1985 No overall control
1989 No overall control
1993 No overall control
1997 No overall control
2001 No overall control
2005 Conservative
2009 Conservative
2013 No overall control
2017 No overall control

Past Chairs

Oxfordshire County Council Chairs, 1889 to 1974
Oxfordshire County Council Chairs, 1991 to 2005

List of notable members

Notable candidates

See also

Notes

  1. "Camelot International, Britain's heritage and history". Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  2. Edwards, John, ed. (1955). "County". Chambers' Encyclopedia. London: George Newnes. pp. 189–191.
  3. "Council services". Oxfordshire County Council. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  4. Statement of Accounts 2013/2014 (PDF). Oxfordshire County Council. 24 September 2014. p. 8. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  5. Padfield, Colin Frank (1975). British constitution made simple. London: W. H. Allen & Co. p. 291.
  6. "Election 2017 results". Oxfordshire County Council. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  7. "Election 2017 live results". Oxfordshire County Council. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  8. "A mother of three who used to teach maths in south Oxfordshire becomes Chairman". Oxford Mail. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  9. "Sixteen years as County Councillor after career in military". BBC.
  10. "Former Councillor Don Seale". 1 December 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  11. "Cowley's John Sanders elected as Oxfordshire County Council chairman". Oxford Mail. 19 May 2015.
  12. "Oxfordshire County Council presents its annual rose bush rent to the Earth Trust". Oxford Mail.
  13. Busy Evening. Bicester Advertiser. 1 December 1972.
  14. The youngest chairman. Bicester Advertiser. 1972.
  15. "Hundreds of youngsters enjoy evening of sports in the high street". Thame Gazette.
  16. "Chairman or chairwoman?' row breaks out at council". Oxford Mail. 14 February 2018.
  17. "New Chair Elected". 15 May 2018.
  18. "New chair of county council relishing ceremonial role". Oxford Mail. 16 May 2018.
  19. "Jericho house where Chinese author Chiang Yee given refuge gets blue plaque". Oxford Times.
  20. "Oxfordshire County Council independents agree 'Alliance' with Conservatives". BBC News. 11 May 2013.
  21. "Party 'dumps' town Stalwart". Oxford Mail. 13 April 2013.
  22. "New Bicester Village station set to bring influx of shoppers and visitors to town". Bournemouth Echo. 27 October 2015.
  23. 'BILLINGHAM, Baroness', in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 1 December 2011
  24. '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
  25. 'BUTLER, Peter', in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 30 November 2011
  26. '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
  27. '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
  28. 'HOWELL, John Michael' in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black); online edition (subscription required) by Oxford University Press, accessed 1 December 2011
  29. "Obituary - Val Smith". Oxford Mail. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  30. '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
  31. Lo, Joe (22 July 2016). "Analysis: Who should lead the Green Party?".
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