Cherwell (district)

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:

• Banbury Municipal Borough
• Banbury Rural District
• Bicester Urban District
• Ploughley Rural District

The new district was named Cherwell after the main river in the area.

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

Liberal Democrat Liberal Democrat : Liberal Democrats (17) : Green Party (4) : Independent (1) ;Other parties (26) : Labour (12) : : Independent (3)

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.

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, ending a 24-year period of the Conservatives being in charge of the council.

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:

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:

Composition

Following the 2024 election, and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:

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'.

The next election is due in May 2026.

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.

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. In 2023 the council announced plans to move its headquarters into the Castle Quay shopping centre in Banbury and sell the Bodicote House site. The move, to 39 Castle Quay, took place on 31 March 2025.

Elections

Main article: Cherwell District Council elections

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.

Arms

Transport

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. However, Banbury can also receive BBC West Midlands and ITV Central from the local relay transmitter which is transmitted via the Sutton Coldfield transmitter.

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.

Settlements in Cherwell district

• Adderbury, Ambrosden, Ardley, Arncott
• Banbury, Barford St. John, Barford St. Michael, Begbroke, Bicester
• Blackthorn
• Bletchingdon, Bloxham, Bodicote
• Broughton
• Bucknell, Burdrop
• Charlton-on-Otmoor, Claydon, Cottisford, Cropredy
• Deddington, Drayton, Duns Tew
• Epwell
• Fencott, Finmere, Fringford, Fritwell
• Godington, Gosford, Great Bourton
• Hampton Poyle, Hanwell, Hardwick, Hethe
• Hook Norton, Horley
• Islip
• Juniper Hill
• Kidlington, Kirtlington
• Launton, Little Bourton, Lower Heyford
• Merton, Middle Aston, Middleton Stoney
• Milcombe, Milton, Mixbury, Mollington, Murcott
• Noke, North Aston, North Newington
• Oddington
• Prescote
• Shenington, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Shutford
• Sibford Ferris, Sibford Gower, Somerton
• Souldern, South Newington, Steeple Aston, Stoke Lyne, Swalcliffe
• Tadmarton, Thrupp
• Upper Heyford
• Wardington, Water Eaton, Weston-on-the-Green, Wroxton
• Yarnton

References

1. "Cherwell Local Authority".
2. "How do you pronounce Cherwell?".
3. (2010). "The Origins of Oxford Street Names".
4. {{cite legislation UK. (1972)
5. {{cite legislation UK. (1973)
6. (23 May 2025). "New chair announced at first annual council meeting at Cherwell District Council's new Castle Quay HQ". Banbury Guardian.
7. (13 December 2023). "New Chief Executive confirmed".
8. {{cite legislation UK. (1972)
9. (23 May 2024). "Cherwell District Council now run by Liberal Democrat and Green set-up". [[Oxford Mail]].
10. (23 May 2024). "Liberal Democrats take charge at Cherwell District Council". Banbury FM Newsteam.
11. "Compositions Calculator". University of Exeter.
12. (2008-04-19). "Cherwell". [[BBC News Online]].
13. "Council minutes, 3 September 2001".
14. "Council minutes, 23 June 2004".
15. (18 May 2023). "Cherwell stalemate as district council fails to secure new leader". BBC News.
16. (23 May 2023). "Conservatives to lead Cherwell District Council after impasse broken". BBC News.
17. "Council minutes, 22 May 2024".
18. (23 May 2024). "First new council leader for two decade announced". BBC News.
19. (3 May 2024). "Cherwell result Local Elections 2024".
20. "Cherwell". Thorncliffe.
21. "Your councillor by political grouping".
22. (4 April 2025). "Cherwell District Council moves to new Banbury headquarters". Oxford Mail.
23. {{NHLE
24. (27 November 1952). "Banbury Rural District Council: Removal of Council Offices". Banbury Guardian.
25. (2 February 2024). "Bodicote House set to be demolished and replaced with housing". Banbury FM.
26. (18 March 2025). "Council announces office move date".
27. {{cite legislation UK. (2015)
28. "Civic Heraldry of England". Robert Young.
29. (May 2004). "Full Freeview on the Oxford (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter".
30. (May 2004). "Freeview Light on the Bretch Hill (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter".
31. (14 December 2013). "Bicester Advertiser | British Newspapers Online".