The Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2025

Made: 10th January 2025

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2), (3), (4) and (5)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009[^f00001] (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England[^f00002] (“the Commission”) published a report dated July 2024[^f00003] stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for Oxfordshire. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations.

A draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and a period of forty days has expired since the day on which it was laid and neither House has resolved that the instrument be not made.

The Commission makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 59(1) of the Act.

Citation, commencement, extent and application

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.

• (2) This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.

• (3) Article 3 comes into force—

• (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after the day on which this Order is made;

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England[^f00004] in 2025.

• (4) Articles 4 and 5 come into force—

• (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2026;

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027.

• (5) Article 6 comes into force—

• (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2027;

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2028.

• (6) This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

Interpretation

2

• (1) In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2025”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England[^f00005].

• (2) Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of the feature.

Electoral divisions of Oxfordshire and number of councillors

3

• (1) The existing electoral divisions of Oxfordshire are abolished.

• (2) Oxfordshire is divided into the 69 electoral divisions listed in Schedule 1.

• (3) Each electoral division comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the electoral division.

• (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each electoral division is one.

Parish wards of the parishes of Abingdon-on-Thames, Bicester, Didcot, Grove, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Wantage, and Witney, and number of councillors

4

• (1) The existing parish wards of the parishes of Abingdon-on-Thames, Bicester, Didcot, Grove, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Wantage, and Witney are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Abingdon-on-Thames is divided into the eight parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 2.

• (3) The parish of Bicester is divided into the eight parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 2.

• (4) The parish of Didcot is divided into the eight parish wards listed in the first column of Table 3 in Schedule 2.

• (5) The parish of Grove is divided into the two parish wards listed in the first column of Table 4 in Schedule 2.

• (6) The parish of Henley-on-Thames is divided into the three parish wards listed in the first column of Table 5 in Schedule 2.

• (7) The parish of Thame is divided into the two parish wards listed in the first column of Table 6 in Schedule 2.

• (8) The parish of Wantage is divided into the three parish wards listed in the first column of Table 7 in Schedule 2.

• (9) The parish of Witney is divided into the seven parish wards listed in the first column of Table 8 in Schedule 2.

• (10) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

• (11) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the relevant table in Schedule 2.

Parish wards of the parish of Chilton and number of councillors

5

• (1) The parish of Chilton is divided into two parish wards, namely—

• (a) East Chilton;

• (b) West Chilton.

• (2) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

• (3) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward referred to in paragraph (1) is four.

Parish wards of the parish of Banbury and number of councillors

6

• (1) The existing parish wards of the parish of Banbury are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Banbury is divided into the eleven parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 3.

• (3) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

• (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 3.

Schedule 1 — Electoral Divisions of Oxfordshire

• 1. Abingdon East

• 1. Abingdon North

• 1. Abingdon South

• 1. Adderbury, Bloxham & Bodicote

• 1. Bampton & Carterton South

• 1. Banbury Calthorpe

• 1. Banbury Easington

• 1. Banbury Grimsbury & Castle

• 1. Banbury Hardwick

• 1. Banbury Ruscote

• 1. Bartlemas

• 1. Barton, Sandhills & Risinghurst

• 1. Benson & Crowmarsh

• 1. Berinsfield & Garsington

• 1. Bicester East

• 1. Bicester North

• 1. Bicester South

• 1. Bicester West

• 1. Brize Norton & Carterton East

• 1. Burford & Carterton West

• 1. Chalgrove & Thame West

• 1. Charlbury & Wychwood

• 1. Charlton, Ardington & Hendreds

• 1. Chesterton & Launton

• 1. Chinnor

• 1. Chipping Norton

• 1. Cholsey & The Hagbournes

• 1. Churchill & Lye Valley

• 1. Cowley

• 1. Cropredy & Hook Norton

• 1. Deddington

• 1. Didcot Ladygrove

• 1. Didcot South

• 1. Didcot West

• 1. Drayton, Sutton Courtenay & Steventon

• 1. Eynsham

• 1. Faringdon

• 1. Goring & Woodcote

• 1. Grove

• 1. Hanborough & Hailey

• 1. Harwell, Western Valley & Blewbury

• 1. Headington & Quarry

• 1. Henley

• 1. Isis

• 1. Jericho & Osney

• 1. Kennington & Radley

• 1. Kidlington East

• 1. Kidlington North & Otmoor

• 1. Kidlington West

• 1. Kingston & Stanford

• 1. Leys

• 1. Marcham & Cumnor

• 1. Marston & Northway

• 1. North Hinksey

• 1. Parks

• 1. Rose Hill & Littlemore

• 1. Shrivenham

• 1. Sonning Common & Henley South

• 1. Summertown & Walton Manor

• 1. Thame

• 1. Wallingford

• 1. Wantage West

• 1. Watlington & Rotherfield

• 1. Wheatley

• 1. Witney North & East

• 1. Witney South & Central

• 1. Witney West & Ducklington

• 1. Wolvercote & Cutteslowe

• 1. Woodstock

Schedule 2 — Names of parish wards and number of councillors

Schedule 3 — Names of parish wards and number of councillors for the parish of Banbury

Signed

Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Ailsa Irvine — Chief Executive — Local Government Boundary Commission for England — 10th January 2025

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Explanatory Note

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for Oxfordshire following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. This Order does not change the boundary of Oxfordshire itself.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral divisions of Oxfordshire and replaces them with the 69 new ones listed in Schedule 1 for the purpose of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2025. It also establishes the names and areas of the new electoral divisions and the number of councillors for each.

Articles 4 and 6 make changes to parish wards that are consequential on the changes made by article 3. The changes to parish wards introduced by articles 4 and 6 come into force for the purpose of parish elections in 2027 and 2028 respectively, and subsequent parish elections. They establish the names and areas of the new parish wards and the number of councillors for each.

Article 5 makes similar provision specifically for the new parish wards of the parish of Chilton, which was previously un-warded, for the purpose of parish elections in 2027 and subsequent parish elections.

The area covered by each electoral division and parish ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8YZ.

This map may also be accessed at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/oxfordshire/.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2009 c. 20.

[^f00002]: The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established on 1st April 2010 by section 55(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

[^f00003]: The report is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8YZ. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/oxfordshire/.

[^f00004]: The ordinary day of election of councillors in England is prescribed by section 37(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2), as amended by section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50), renumbered by paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29), and further amended by section 6(16) of the Wales Act 2017 (c. 4).

[^f00005]: Prints of the map are available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8YZ. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/oxfordshire/.