uksi/2025/33 — The Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2025

2025 No. 33 LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND 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 (“ the Act ”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (“ the Commission ”) published a report dated July 2024 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 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 . 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. 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 Schedules Schedule 1 Electoral Divisions of Oxfordshire Article 3 1. Abingdon East 2. Abingdon North 3. Abingdon South 4. Adderbury, Bloxham & Bodicote 5. Bampton & Carterton South 6. Banbury Calthorpe 7. Banbury Easington 8. Banbury Grimsbury & Castle 9. Banbury Hardwick 10. Banbury Ruscote 11. Bartlemas 12. Barton, Sandhills & Risinghurst 13. Benson & Crowmarsh 14. Berinsfield & Garsington 15. Bicester East 16. Bicester North 17. Bicester South 18. Bicester West 19. Brize Norton & Carterton East 20. Burford & Carterton West 21. Chalgrove & Thame West 22. Charlbury & Wychwood 23. Charlton, Ardington & Hendreds 24. Chesterton & Launton 25. Chinnor 26. Chipping Norton 27. Cholsey & The Hagbournes 28. Churchill & Lye Valley 29. Cowley 30. Cropredy & Hook Norton 31. Deddington 32. Didcot Ladygrove 33. Didcot South 34. Didcot West 35. Drayton, Sutton Courtenay & Steventon 36. Eynsham 37. Faringdon 38. Goring & Woodcote 39. Grove 40. Hanborough & Hailey 41. Harwell, Western Valley & Blewbury 42. Headington & Quarry 43. Henley 44. Isis 45. Jericho & Osney 46. Kennington & Radley 47. Kidlington East 48. Kidlington North & Otmoor 49. Kidlington West 50. Kingston & Stanford 51. Leys 52. Marcham & Cumnor 53. Marston & Northway 54. North Hinksey 55. Parks 56. Rose Hill & Littlemore 57. Shrivenham 58. Sonning Common & Henley South 59. Summertown & Walton Manor 60. Thame 61. Wallingford 62. Wantage West 63. Watlington & Rotherfield 64. Wheatley 65. Witney North & East 66. Witney South & Central 67. Witney West & Ducklington 68. Wolvercote & Cutteslowe 69. Woodstock Schedule 2 Names of parish wards and number of councillors Article 4 Table 1 Parish wards of the parish of Abingdon-on-Thames and number of councillors (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors Abbey 2 Caldecott 4 Dunmore 4 Fitzharris Ock 2 Fitzharris Wildmoor 1 Northcourt 1 Peachcroft 4 Rush Common 1 Table 2 Parish wards of the parish of Bicester and number of councillors (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors Brookside 1 East 5 Greenwood 1 North 4 South East 4 South West 3 Town 1 West 3 Table 3 Parish wards of the parish of Didcot and number of councillors (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors All Saints 5 Broadway 1 Jubilee 1 Ladygrove 6 Millbrook 1 Northbourne 3 Orchard 1 Park 3 Table 4 Parish wards of the parish of Grove and number of councillors (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors Grove North 13 Grove South 3 Table 5 Parish wards of the parish of Henley-on-Thames and number of councillors (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors Henley North 8 Henley South 5 Newtown 3 Table 6 Parish wards of the parish of Thame and number of councillors (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors Thame East 15 Thame West 1 Table 7 Parish wards of the parish of Wantage and number of councillors (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors Charlton 6 Segsbury 6 Wantage 4 Table 8 Parish wards of the parish of Witney and number of councillors (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors Windrush Quay 1 Witney Central 3 Witney East 4 Witney Leys 1 Witney North 2 Witney South 3 Witney West 3 Schedule 3 Names of parish wards and number of councillors for the parish of Banbury Article 6 (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors Broughton Road 1 Calthorpe North 1 Calthorpe South 2 Easington 4 Grimsbury 3 Hardwick 4 Neithrop North 1 Neithrop South 1 Park Road 1 Ruscote 3 Town Centre 1 Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Order) 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.