Oxfordshire County Council

Oxfordshire County Council
Type
Type	County council
Leadership
Chairman of the council	Zoe Patrick Since May 2017
Leader of the Council	Cllr Ian Hudspeth
Structure
Seats	63 councillors
Political groups	Conservative (31)      Labour (13)      Liberal Democrat (13)      Independent (5)      Vacant (1)
Length of term	4 years
Elections
Voting system	First past the post
Last election	4 May 2017
Next election	6 May 2021
Motto
Sapere aude (Dare to be wise)[1]
Meeting place
New County Hall, New Road, Oxford
Website
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/

Oxfordshire County Council, established in 1889, is the county council, or upper-tier local authority, for the non-metropolitan county of Oxfordshire, in the South East of England, an elected body responsible for the most strategic local government services in the county.

History

County Councils were first introduced in England and Wales with full powers from 22 September 1889 as a result of the Local Government Act 1888, taking over administrative functions until then carried out by the unelected Quarter Sessions.^[2] The areas they covered were termed administrative counties and were not in all cases identical to the traditional shire counties, but in Oxfordshire the whole 'ceremonial county' came under the authority of the new council. The new system of local democracy was a significant development and reflected the increasing range of functions carried out by local government in late Victorian Britain.

The first elections to the new county council were held in January 1889. At the first meeting, several aldermen were elected.

Schools (both primary and secondary) were added to the County Council's responsibilities in 1902, and until the 1990s it was also responsible for operating Colleges of Further Education.

Oxfordshire County Council has seen a changing pattern of lower-tier authorities existing alongside it within its area, responsible for more local services, such as housing and waste collection. Until 1974, the county had a large number of urban district and rural district councils. In 1974, local government was reorganized in England and Wales generally, and Oxfordshire was enlarged to take in areas previously in Berkshire. Within its new area dozens of former urban and rural districts were amalgamated into one city council, that of Oxford, and four district councils: Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, the Vale of White Horse, and West Oxfordshire.

Functions

Oxfordshire County Council provides a wide range of services, including education (schools, libraries and youth services), social services, highway maintenance, waste disposal, emergency planning, consumer protection and town and country planning for matters to do with minerals, waste, highways and education.^[3] This makes it one of the largest employers in Oxfordshire, with an annual budget of £899 million in 2013–14.^[4]

Elections

Since 1889, members have been elected for a term of office, with elections held all together (initially every three years, later every four years) on the "first past the post" system. Until the 1970s, the elected members chose aldermen, whose term of office was for six years, and who once appointed were also voting members of the council. This form of membership was ended by the Local Government Act 1972, so that after 1974 only honorary (that is, non-voting) aldermen could be appointed.^[5]

Composition

The council currently consists of sixty-three county councillors and no party has no overall control. The Conservative Party,has thirty-one members, with fourteen Labour, thirteen Liberal Democrats, four Independents and one Henley Residents Group member.^[6]

The next election will be held on 6 May 2021.

History of political control

Past Chairmen

Oxfordshire County Council Chairs, 1889 to 1974

Oxfordshire County Council Chairs, 1991 to 2005

• John Sanders (2015–16)
• Don Seale (2012–13) ^[8]
• Lesley Legge (2006-7) ^[9]
• Catherine Fulljames (2005-6)

List of notable members

• George Parker, 7th Earl of Macclesfield, chairman 1937–70^[10]
• William Bradshaw, Baron Bradshaw, member 1993–2008^[11]
• James Plaskitt, member 1985–97, later Member of Parliament
• Peter Butler, member 1985–89, later Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes North East^[12]
• Angela Billingham, member 1993–94, later Baroness Billingham^[13]
• Sherman Stonor, 6th Baron Camoys, member^[14]
• Olive Gibbs, chairman 1974–1975 and 1981–1982
• Julia Drown, member 1989–96, later Member of Parliament for Swindon South^[15]
• John Howell, member 2004–09, later Member of Parliament^[16]
• John Redwood, member 1973–77, later Member of Parliament for Wokingham
• Caroline Lucas, member 1993–97, later Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion

Notes

External links

• Official website