Browse news and stories about local government and politics in Oxfordshire, including the administration of Oxfordshire county and the city and district councils by the representatives elected by those who live there.
The county’s cabinet member for finance, was fielding questions from the performance and corporate services overview and scrutiny committee over initial proposals for the council’s budget from April 2023.
The council has balanced the budget despite facing unprecedented financial pressures as a result of rising inflation and interest rates, the economic downturn and the legacy impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on some key income streams.
District councillors at the Vale unanimously agreed to remove the restrictions requiring low-income households to contribute towards their annual council tax bill.
Dr Martin Reeves has been named as new Chief Executive of Oxfordshire County Council, to take over from the Interim Chief Executive, Stephen Chandler.
In its latest financial report to cabinet, the council predicts it will overspend by £8.7m on children’s services in this financial year, much of which is due to children placed into social care.
Jason Hogg, who currently serves as Deputy Chief Constable, is set to step up to the top job when incumbent John Campbell retires at the end of March 2023.
The political balance of a group of councillors tasked with holding to account Thames Valley’s Police & Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber has again been called into question.
The suggestion was put forward following a question over how many councillors had failed to attend any meeting of full council since May this year.
The councillor who oversees Oxfordshire County Council’s customer call handling has apologised after thousands of people gave up while waiting in September.
The authority was deemed unable to prove it has a five-year housing land supply by the Planning Inspectorate.
Although the proposals have not been finalised yet, Mr Rodda has argued they would lead to an increase in ‘ugly and cramped developments’ both in the town and on its outskirts.
He expressed his opinion while delivering an update to the West Oxfordshire council’s cabinet, the ruling body of councillors, this week.