15th July 2026
Residents in parts of South Oxfordshire are being invited to have their say on proposed changes to community governance arrangements, including parish boundaries, the number of elected councillors and the way local wards are organised.
Following an initial public consultation earlier this year, the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee has reviewed the feedback received and agreed which proposals should progress to a second round of consultation, as well as those that will not be taken forward. The committee's report and meeting minutes provide further details on the decisions made.
Views are now being sought on the following, finalised proposals:
A) Recommendation to increase the number of parish councillors
Ewelme Parish Council - to increase the number of councillors from 6 to 7.
Stoke Row Parish Council - to increase the number of councillors from 6 to 7.
B) Recommendation to amend parish warding arrangements due to be implemented as part of the Local Government Boundary Commission Review for England
Didcot Town Council - to amend the parish warding arrangements introduced by the 2023/24 Local Government Boundary Commission for England review for Didcot Town Council, by merging the parish wards of Broadway and Orchard, and Jubilee and Millbrook, whilst leaving the overall number of parish councillors unchanged. Further information on this proposal is available in the survey.
Henley-on-Thames Town Council - to amend the parish warding arrangements introduced by the 2023/24 Local Government Boundary Commission for England review, more specifically to remove the new parish ward (Newtown) and re-establish pre-LGBCE review warding arrangements. Further information on this proposal is available in the survey.
Thame Town Council - to amend parish warding arrangements as revised by the 2023/24 Local Government Boundary Commission for England review and to divide the new parish ward of Thame East into 'Thame North East' and 'Thame South East'. Further information on this proposal is available in the survey.
C) Recommendation to amend boundaries
Shirburn and Pyrton Parishes - to amend the boundary between the parishes in order to include the whole of Shirburn Castle Park in the parish of Shirburn.
Thame and Great Haseley Parishes - to amend the boundary between the parishes to include land currently in Great Haseley parish within Thame parish. This would allow the changes highlighted in both Phase 1 and Phase 2 to take place. More information on this proposal is available in the survey.
If these recommendations are approved by the Committee, the intention is that they would come into effect in time for the May 2027 elections.
You will have the opportunity to comment on as many of the proposed changes as you wish. Please provide your feedback by 11.59pm on Thursday 30 July 2026.
Find out more here.
