Have your say on a new political map for Oxfordshire County Council

The Local Government Boundary Commission is undertaking further consultation on new boundaries for 30 electoral divisions in the Cherwell and Vale of White Horse districts of the county. 

The Commission is satisfied that it has received sufficient evidence in earlier rounds of consultation to finalise new division boundaries in other areas. The Commission is not seeking submissions about the rest of the county. A full set of final recommendations for the council will be published in July 2024.  

The Local Government Boundary Commission wants to hear what residents and local organisations think about the new proposals. A final 8-week consultation on the proposals will run until 22 April 2024. This follows two previous periods of consultation.

Proposed divisions for Cherwell and Vale of White Horse

Credit: contains Ordnance Survey data (c) Crown copyright and database rights 2023

High resolution map available at: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/oxfordshire

The Commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries. It is reviewing Cherwell and Vale of White Horse to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, reflect community identity, and that division arrangements will help the council work effectively. 

The commission is proposing 69 divisions in Cherwell and Vale of White Horse consisting of 69 single-councillor divisions.

Proposed changes from our original draft proposals include:

• New division boundaries for Cherwell;
• New division boundaries for Wantage and Charlton.

Launching the consultation Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said:

“We are publishing further recommendations for a new pattern of divisions across Cherwell and Vale of White Horse and we are keen to hear what local people think of the recommendations. 

We want people in Cherwell and Vale of White Horse to help us. 

We want to make sure these new electoral arrangements reflect communities. We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people.

Residents and local organisations have already helped us in refining our earlier proposals. Now we would like them to let us know whether they agree with our proposals before we take final decisions.

“It’s easy to get involved. Go to our website. Or you can e-mail or write to us.

Just tell us what you think and give us some details why you think that. It’s really simple, so do get involved”

People can give their views via our website at: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/oxfordshire

People can also give their views by e-mail at reviews@lgbce.org.uk, and by post:

Review Officer (Oxfordshire)

LGBCE

PO Box 133

Blyth

NE24 9FE

Ends/

Notes to editors: 

This consultation relates to the arrangements for local government elections. It is separate from consultations that are currently taking place across England on arrangements for parliamentary elections.

For further information contact the Commission’s press office on 0330 500 1525 / 1250 or email press@lgbce.org.uk 

An interactive map is available at: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/oxfordshire

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body accountable to Parliament. It recommends fair electoral and boundary arrangements for local authorities in England. In doing so, it aims to 

•     Make sure that, within an authority, each councillor represents a similar number of electors

•     Create boundaries that are appropriate, and reflect community ties and identities

•     Deliver reviews informed by local needs, views and circumstances

•     Reflect the request for single-member divisions