Cherwell (district)

Cherwell (/ˈtʃɜːrwɛl/ CHER-wel)[2][3] 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 and Bicester. Kidlington is a contender for largest village in England.

Cherwell
Cherwell District
Non-metropolitan district
The cross in Banbury, the district's administrative centre
The cross in Banbury, the district's administrative centre
Coat of arms of Cherwell
Coat of arms
Cherwell shown within Oxfordshire
Cherwell shown within Oxfordshire
Coordinates: 51.95°N 1.25°W / 51.95; -1.25
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth East England
Non-metropolitan countyOxfordshire
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQBodicote
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyCherwell District Council
 • LeadershipLeader & Cabinet (Conservative)
 • MPs
Area
 • Total227.3 sq mi (588.8 km2)
 • Rank62nd (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total164,155
 • Rank125th (of 296)
 • Density720/sq mi (280/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code38UB (ONS)
E07000177 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSP5153928258

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:[4]

The new district was named Cherwell after the main river in the area.[5]

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
Cherwell District Council
Type
Type
Leadership
Les Sibley,
Independent
since 18 May 2022[6]
Barry Wood,
Conservative
since 23 May 2023
Gordon Stewart
since 2024[7]
Structure
Seats48
Political groups
Administration (11)
  Conservative (11)
Opposition (37)
  Liberal Democrats (17)
  Labour (13)
  Green Party (4)
  Independent (3)
Elections
Last election
2 May 2024
Next election
2026
Meeting place
Bodicote House, White Post Road, Bodicote, Banbury, OX15 4AA
Website
www.cherwell.gov.uk

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.[8]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 Cherwell District Council election. Prior to that election, the Conservatives had held a majority of the seats on the council since 2000.

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:[9][10]

Party in controlYears
No overall control1974–1976
Conservative1976–1995
No overall control1995–1996
Labour1996–1998
No overall control1998–2000
Conservative2000–2023
No overall control2023–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:[11]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
George Reynolds Conservative3 Sep 200123 Jun 2004
Barry Wood Conservative23 Jun 200417 May 2023
Conservative23 May 2023

Following the 2023 election, the Conservatives lost control of the council to no overall control.[12] Attempts to form a coalition of the other parties failed to produce an alternative administration. The Conservative leader of the council, Barry Wood, was removed from office at the council's annual meeting on 17 May 2023, but as the council could not agree on a replacement leader the meeting was then adjourned until 23 May 2023.[13] No alternative leader who could command a majority had emerged by then either, and so Barry Wood was reinstated as leader, in charge of a Conservative minority administration.[14]

Composition

Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council is:[15]

PartyCouncillors
Liberal Democrats17
Labour13
Conservative11
Green4
Independent3
Total48

The next election is due in 2026.

Premises

The council is based at Bodicote House in Bodicote, a village immediately to the south of Banbury, the district's largest town. Bodicote House is a large eighteenth century house, which had served as the headquarters of the old Banbury Rural District Council since 1952. Large modern extensions have since been added to the original house.[16][17] In 2023 the council announced plans to move its headquarters into the Castle Quay shopping centre in Banbury and sell the Bodicote House site.[18]

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.[19]

Arms
Coat of arms of Cherwell
Notes
Granted 21 March 2016
Crest
On a Wreath Or and Vert in front of a Rainbow proper an Oak Tree eradicated Sable leaved Vert and fructed Or, Mantled Vert and Azure lined Or and Argent.
Escutcheon
Vert a Pale wavy Or thereon a Pale wavy Azure all between two Pallets Argent on each a Pallet Azure.
Motto
From Cherwell Flows Prosperity [20]

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. [21] However, Banbury can also receive BBC West Midlands and ITV Central from the local relay transmitter which is transmitted via the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. [22]

Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Oxford, Heart Thames Valley, Capital Mid-Counties and Jack FM.

Local newspapers are Banbury Guardian and Bicester Advertiser. [23]

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

References
  1. UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Cherwell Local Authority (E07000177)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. "How do you pronounce Cherwell?". www.bbc.co.uk.
  3. Ann Spokes Symonds; Nigel Morgan (2010). The Origins of Oxford Street Names. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-899536-99-3.
  4. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 3 March 2023
  5. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 3 March 2023
  6. "Council minutes, 18 May 2022" (PDF). Cherwell District Council. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  7. "New Chief Executive confirmed". 13 December 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  8. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 3 March 2023
  9. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  10. "Cherwell". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  11. "Council minutes". Cherwell District Council. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  12. "Local elections 2023: Conservatives lose only council in Oxfordshire". BBC News. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  13. Starr, Claire; Gilyeat, Dave (18 May 2023). "Cherwell stalemate as district council fails to secure new leader". BBC News. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  14. "Conservatives to lead Cherwell District Council after impasse broken". BBC News. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  15. "Cherwell result Local Elections 2024". BBC News. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  16. Historic England. "Bodicote House, High Street, Bodicote (Grade II) (1248703)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  17. "Banbury Rural District Council: Removal of Council Offices". Banbury Guardian. 27 November 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 24 April 2023. ...all departments of the Banbury Rural District Council (at present accommodated at 8 Horse Fair, Banbury, and at Castle Wharf, Banbury) will be transferred as from Monday the 1st December 1952 to Bodicote House...
  18. "Bodicote House set to be demolished and replaced with housing". Banbury FM. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  19. "The Cherwell (Electoral Changes) Order 2015", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2015/1872, retrieved 18 May 2023
  20. "Civic Heraldry of England". Robert Young. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  21. "Full Freeview on the Oxford (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter". May 2004.
  22. "Freeview Light on the Bretch Hill (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter". May 2004.
  23. "Bicester Advertiser | British Newspapers Online". 14 December 2013.
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