Government & Politics
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.
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County council agrees MOU with Oxford United for timely talks on stadium proposals
Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet has approved an agreement with Oxford United to govern open and transparent relations between the two parties while exploring Oxford United’s stadium proposals.
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Questions over £4.3m gap in Castle Quay’s revenue sparks a tribal row
Questions over the performance of Banbury’s council-owned shopping centre turned tribal this week with claims that a political group is “denigrating” the town.
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District councillors in Cherwell to get a 2.75 per cent pay rise
Councillors in Cherwell District Council are set to benefit from a 2.75 per cent rise to their annual allowances, as recommended by an independent panel.
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Cherwell District Council budget set despite lack of support from opposition parties
Cherwell District Council’s budget for the new financial year has been set despite a lack of support and criticism from opposition parties.
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Thames Valley Police decides to increase council tax by 6.22%
Thames Valley Police has decided to increase the council tax it collects by 6.22 per cent in an effort to provide ‘strong local policing to keep streets safe.’
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Thames Valley Police reveals plans for new state-of-the-art forensics centre in Bicester
The purpose-built centre in Bicester will become the main forensics hub for the force, containing laboratories, new digital technologies and dedicated training facilities.
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Silverstone museum loan repayments expose ‘weaknesses’ in councils‘ due diligence processes
Several councils and a local enterprise partnership loaned millions of pounds to the Silverstone Interactive Museum, but none of them has yet been fully repaid.
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County councillors warn that reviews could lead to spiralling executive pay
Councillors in charge at Oxfordshire County Council have been urged to proceed with caution when conducting reviews of executive pay.
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Oxfordshire councillor rails against “callous” amendment as 2023/24 budget is set
The councillor in charge of finances at Oxfordshire County Council has launched a staunch defence of its spending plans.
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Oxfordshire Conservatives propose trimming council tax rise in alternative budget
The Conservative opposition wants to limit the rise in the county’s portion of council tax to 3.99 per cent, two per cent of which is ring-fenced for adult social care.
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Councillor’s mic-drop over housing standards in Cherwell dismissed as “unwarranted flounce”
A councillor championing housing standards in Cherwell was accused of an “unwarranted flounce” having walked out immediately after criticising a new policy.
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Reduced housing targets in Cherwell will protect from “speculative” developers
A new way of calculating housing targets across Cherwell district is set to give councillors more scope to refuse planning applications
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Rents and council tax in Cherwell District are set to go up by the maximum permitted
Cherwell District Council is putting up housing rents and its share of council tax by the maximum allowed amid plans to handle future financial pressures.
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Council leader “extremely disappointed” with Jeremy Clarkson in parking row
Parking restrictions near Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm have been approved, with the leader of Oxfordshire County Council declaring herself “extremely disappointed” with the TV star.
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“More realistic budget” required as City Council predicts £1.8m overspend on housing repairs
Oxford’s housing revenue account, budgeted to handle more than £47m of income and expenditure in 2022/23, was expected to make a modest £64k profit.
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Council introduces new four year plan to improve West Oxfordshire
West Oxfordshire District Council has updated its four-year plan, which sets out how the council will deliver for residents and what it will focus on to improve West Oxfordshire.