Cherwell (district)

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Template:Infobox settlement Cherwell (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell or Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is a local government district in northern Oxfordshire, England. The district was created in 1974 and takes its name from the River Cherwell, which drains south through the region to flow into the River Thames at Oxford. Towns in Cherwell include Banbury, where the council is based, and Bicester. Kidlington is a contender for largest village in England.

History

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:<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

The new district was named Cherwell after the main river in the area.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Geography

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.

Governance

Template:Infobox legislature

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.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Political control

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 coalition of the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and one independent councillor would take charge of the council as a minority administration,<ref name=Nimmo/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> ending a 24-year period of the Conservatives being in charge of the council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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:<ref name=compositions>Template:Cite web (Put "Cherwell" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name=change>Template:Cite news</ref>

Party in control Years
Template:Party name with colour 1974–1976
Template:Party name with colour 1976–1995
Template:Party name with colour 1995–1996
Template:Party name with colour 1996–1998
Template:Party name with colour 1998–2000
Template:Party name with colour 2000–2023
Template:Party name with colour 2023–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:

Councillor Party From To
George Reynolds<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Party name with colour 3 Sep 2001 Jun 2004
Barry Wood<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Efn Template:Party name with colour 23 Jun 2004 17 May 2023
Template:Party name with colour 23 May 2023 22 May 2024
David Hingley<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Nimmo>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Party name with colour 22 May 2024

Composition

Following the 2024 election,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:<ref name=Thorncliffe>Template:Cite web</ref>

Party Councillors
Template:Party name with colour 17
Template:Party name with colour 12
Template:Party name with colour 11
Template:Party name with colour 4
Template:Party name with colour 4
Total 48

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. Another independent sits with the Conservatives as the 'Conservative and Independent Alliance', and the other two independents sit together as the 'Independent Group'.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The next election is due in May 2026.<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

Premises

The council is based at 39 Castle Quay in Banbury, the district's largest town. The council's premises comprise some converted former shop units within a shopping centre. The council moved into Castle Quay in 2025.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bodicote House, White Post Road, Bodicote: Council's headquarters 1974–2025

Prior to 2025, the council was based at Bodicote House in Bodicote, a village immediately to the south of Banbury. Bodicote House is a large eighteenth century house, which had served as the headquarters of the old Banbury Rural District Council from 1952. Large modern extensions were added to the original house.<ref>Template:NHLE</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2023 the council announced plans to move its headquarters into the Castle Quay shopping centre in Banbury and sell the Bodicote House site.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The move, to 39 Castle Quay, took place on 31 March 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Elections

Template:Main 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.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Arms

Template:Infobox COA wide

Transport

Bicester, 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.

Media

In terms of television, the area is served by BBC South and ITV Meridian broadcasting from the Oxford transmitter. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, Banbury can also receive BBC West Midlands and ITV Central from the local relay transmitter which is transmitted via the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Settlements in Cherwell district

Cherwell population pyramid
Kidlington, the third-largest settlement in the district and one of the largest villages in England

See also

Notes and references

Template:Notelist Template:Reflist

Template:Oxfordshire Template:SE England

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