Cherwell (district)

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}}Template:Main other Cherwell (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell or Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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.

HistoryEdit

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>

GeographyEdit

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.

GovernanceEdit

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 controlEdit

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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> ending a 24-year period of the Conservatives being in charge of the council.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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

LeadershipEdit

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:

Councillor	Party		From
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> \|\| Template:Party name with colour \|\| align=right\|3 Sep 2001 \|\| align=right\|Jun 2004
Barry Wood<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Efn \|\| Template:Party name with colour \|\| align=right\|23 Jun 2004 \|\| align=right\|17 May 2023
Barry Wood<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	Template:Party name with colour	23 May 2023	22 May 2024
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Nimmo>Template:Cite news</ref> \|\| Template:Party name with colour \|\| align=right\|22 May 2024 \|\| align=right\|

CompositionEdit

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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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

PremisesEdit

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>

File:New Bodicote House.jpg

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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ElectionsEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} 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>

ArmsEdit

Template:Infobox COA wide

TransportEdit

File:Bicester Village - geograph.org.uk - 1828514.jpg

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.

MediaEdit

In terms of television, the area is served by BBC South and ITV Meridian broadcasting from the Oxford transmitter. <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>