Local Election - Candidates

Sat 5 Apr, 17:51

Thanks, Emily and Richard, for clarifying and apologies if it is all a bit confusing!  

Sat 5 Apr, 12:03

WODC does still exist. But if the unitary council happens then it won’t exist beyond 2027.

Sat 5 Apr, 11:50

So does WODC no longer exist?

Sat 5 Apr, 10:41

Voting for OCC on May 1st.

Then another election in 2027 when the new council is formed.

Sat 5 Apr, 10:37

So what are we voting for? OCC? WODC?? or will there be another election when the Govt makes it mind up/finds the funds for a Unitary election.???

Just askin'

Sat 5 Apr, 10:27

Thanks Liz for clarifying. I thought that was the case based on your letter you shared and what I’ve read.

Once again, it would be good if OCC’s comms were better, or even existent! I didn’t even know local elections were going ahead until I spoke to Mike. And all but one candidate (prosecco during Covid parties, anyone?) has been out canvassing. 

Sat 5 Apr, 09:33 (last edited on Sat 5 Apr, 09:37)

That isn't entirely accurate, Mike. Malcolm is right, there was a discussion about postponing the elections for those authorities that wanted to be "fast tracked" for devolution, following a letter to us from government in November, and Oxfordshire said that they would like to be fast tracked and that if postponing the elections for a year was a condition we would reluctantly agree to that.  However, the government has only fast tracked 9 local authorities, due to lack of resource, and we are not one of them.  So the elections are going ahead.  We are required by November 28th this year to present government with plans for reorganising Oxfordshire into a unitary authority which will mean the abolition of the county, city and district councils as separate entities, and the introduction of a unitary authority.  Elections for the new authority will be taking place in May 2027, according to the government's current timetable.  All two tier counties will become unitary on this timetable, at the moment there are 20 such counties.

Sat 5 Apr, 09:14

The Government proposed delaying May local elections

The Oxfordshire LibDems refused to go along with such a fundamentally undemocratic policy.

The Government almost immediately saw sense and climbed down, so the May elections in Oxfordshire will go ahead. In most other counties they'll be delayed.

Fri 4 Apr, 22:17

Wasn't there some discussion a while back, about Local Authorities facing Local Government changes of a major nature, foregoing elections (costs etc) for Council places that were going to simply be replaced by different bodies in a year or so?

I'd not kept up with what is happening at that level in Oxfordshire.

Fri 4 Apr, 22:11

That is the: Oxfordshire County Council Elections 2025

In case you've missed the News posted notice.

Fri 4 Apr, 10:23 (last edited on Fri 4 Apr, 10:27)

In case you missed it, here are our candidates for the election on May 1st.

Stephen Gibbons – Reform UK

Liz Leffman – Lib Dem

Emma Nell – Conservative

Robin Puttick – Labour

Mary Robertson – Green

Remember to register to vote. You have until 11:59pm on 11 April 2025. 

Don't forget your voter ID on the day. You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate as a form of ID. You have until 5pm on 23 April 2025 to do so.