You can make a real difference to your local community by Joining the Conversation in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.
Every year, we make lots of decisions that affect your communities and it’s important that we take your thoughts into consideration when we do. That's why we want your input.
Find all the opportunities to get involved here – and let us know your thoughts on issues that matter to you.
You can see all of our live and closed consultations and surveys as well as the results below.
Open activities
Cornerstone Classes and Café
At Cornerstone, we want to offer more and that’s where you come in. We’re exploring new classes, workshops and talks, and we need your help to shape what we offer next. We also would like your feedback on our Café, including how often you visit, what would encourage you to come more often, and your views on future menu options. Tell us what you’re interested in by completing this survey from Friday 19 June until 11.59pm on Friday 17 July 2026. Want to...
Equalities database: sign up form
Are you a voluntary organisation or community group that represents any of the ‘protected characteristics'? The Equality Act 2010 introduced the term “protected characteristics” to refer to groups that are protected under the Act. Protected characteristics are legally defined as: age gender reassignment being married or in a civil partnership being pregnant or on maternity leave disability race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin...
Community Governance Review in the Vale of White Horse 2026 - Final Consultation on Proposed Changes
Earlier this year we asked for your views on potential changes for some parishes in the Vale of White Horse, including their boundaries. The proposed changes formed part of the 2026 Community Governance Review (CGR) for the Vale of White Horse. After the consultation closed, the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Commitee (the Committee) reviewed the feedback received and made final recommendations on which proposal(s) should be taken to a second round of consultation, and...
Community Governance Review in South Oxfordshire 2026 - Final Consultation on Proposed Changes
Earlier this year we asked for your views on proposed changes to community governance in some towns and parishes in South Oxfordshire, including changes to their boundaries, the number of elected councillors and how local wards are organised. Once the consultation closed, the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee (the 'Committee') reviewed the feedback and made final recommendations on which proposals should be taken to a second round of consultation, and which ones...
Western Valley: Neighbourhood Area Designation Consultation
Vale of White Horse district council designated the Western Valley Neighbourhood Area on 1 October 2025. The original application sought designation of the entire parish area. However, due to a mapping error, a small section of the parish was omitted in the designated neighbourhood area. The district council is therefore undertaking a six-week consultation on a proposal to redesignate the neighbourhood area to include the omitted section. A map showing both the current designated...
Your chance to get involved with Didcot Garden Town: sign-up form
It is an exciting time for the Didcot Garden Town project as it comes off the delivery plan pages into real life community projects! The garden town team are implementing the new refocused Didcot Garden Town (DGT) Delivery Plan, which was approved in 2022. They are working on how to deliver the projects that the community has identified as the most important to bring greater social, economic and environmental benefits to the town. These projects compliment the wider delivery of just over...
Compliments and Comments Feedback Form
We always aim to provide a high standard of service, but we may not always get it right first time. We value feedback about our services and welcome any comments which can help us to continue to improve the service we provide at the district council. Equally, we would love to hear any compliments about our service, whether that is providing praise to a particular member of staff or service team. Or letting us know when we have provided an exceedingly high standard of service. ...
Closed activities
Ardington and Lockinge: Publicity Period on the Submitted Neighbourhood Plan
Ardington and Lockinge Parish Council is working on a Neighbourhood Plan which has recently been submitted to Vale of White Horse District Council. We are inviting your comments on the plan and supporting documents during a publicity period running from 20 May to 11.59pm on 2 July 2026. You can view the neighbourhood plan and supporting documents below. This consultation is separated into three sections: Part A - Personal details Part B - Your comments ...
Proposed New Play Area in Berinsfield
South Oxfordshire District Council has secured funding to create a new sensory play area in Berinsfield. After hearing from parents with children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) that the current play areas in Berinsfield can feel too busy and noisy, we want to gather further views from parents, guardians, and local residents. Your ideas will help us understand what types of sensory equipment would best support children’s needs and which location in the village...
Eye and Dunsden: Focused Consultation on Modifications in response to Sections 98 & 99 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023
Eye and Dunsden Parish Council submitted their draft neighbourhood plan to South Oxfordshire District Council in October 2025. We carried out a period of publicity on the draft neighbourhood plan and supporting documents in December 2025. This gave residents and statutory consultees an opportunity to comment on the draft plan. The responses to the December 2025 publicity period were submitted for examination and published on our website . Andrew...
Let's Talk Rubbish! Waste and Street Cleaning Survey 2026
We would like to know what you think of the waste and street cleaning services offered by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils. These include refuse, recycling, food and garden waste collections, and street cleansing services. This survey is run annually and in 2025, more than 2,100 people took part. As a result of the feedback we received, extra training was given to the staff who perform the services to help ensure bins are returned...
Review of the Off-Street Parking Orders for South and Vale Districts
We are currently reviewing the Off-Street Parking Orders for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts. As part of this review, we are proposing amendments to the following car parks - find out more by watching the video. South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Car Parks Change all South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse car parks to a ticketless system. This means you will no longer need to display a physical ticket in your vehicle. You will...
Community Governance Review in the Vale of White Horse 2026
Vale of White Horse District Council is seeking your views on potential changes for some parishes, including their boundaries. The proposals outlined in this consultation form part of the 2026 Community Governance Review (CGR) for the Vale of White Horse. If the proposed changes are adopted, they will become effective in time for the May 2027 elections. As part of the 2026 CGR we would like to hear your thoughts on the following proposals: A) Requests for a...
We asked, you said, we did
Below are outcomes for some of the issues we've recently asked about. See all outcomes
We asked
Residents of some parishes in the Vale of White Horse to provide their views on potential changes to community governance in their areas, including changes to parish boundaries. The proposals outlined in this consultation formed part of the 2026 Community Governance Review (CGR) for the Vale of White Horse.
You said
We received 401 responses for this consultation, of which 98 per cent by members of the public.
Most respondents agreed with the following proposals:
- To amend the boundary between Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor parish (KBS) and Tubney and Fyfield parish to include a new residential development of 650 dwellings within KBS parish.
- To create a joint council by grouping together the parishes of Appleton with Eaton and Besselsleigh.
Most respondents disagreed with the proposal to amend the boundaries between Kennington parish and Radley parish to include the housing developments north of Sugworth Lane within Kennington parish.
We did
After the consultation closed, the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Commitee (the Committee) reviewed the feedback received and made final recommendations on which proposal(s) should be taken to a second round of consultation, and which should not be considered any further. A second round of consultation on the final proposals launched on Thursday 11 June 2026.
We asked
Residents of some town and parish councils in South Oxfordshire to give us their views on potential changes to community governance in their areas, including changes to town/parish boundaries, the number of elected councillors and how local wards are organised. The proposals outlined in the consultation formed part of the 2026 Community Governance Review (CGR) for South Oxfordshire. Some of the amendments we consulted on were based on the recommendations made by the 2023/24 Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) review.
You said
We received 132 responses to this consultation, of which 89 per cent submitted by members of the public.
Most respondents agreed with the following proposals:
- Stoke Row Parish Council: to increase the number of councillors from 6 to 8.
- Henley-on-Thames Town Council: to alter LGBCE warding arrangements and retain pre-LGBCE review ones.
- Thame Town Council: to alter LGBCE warding arrangements and retain pre-LGBCE review ones.
- Clifton Hampden and Dorchester Parish Councils: to review the boundary between the parishes in order to include the property at 6 Linnet Close within the parish of Clifton Hampden.
- Thame Town Council and Great Haseley Parish Council: to review the boundary between the parishes in order to include the business industrial estate off the A329 within Thame parish (Phase 1), and to include the land currently proposed for the development of Thame Cattle Market within Thame parish (Phase 2).
Most respondents disagreed with the following proposals:
- Ewelme Parish Council: to increase the number of councillors from 6 to 8. Only one respondent commented on this proposal.
- Watlington Parish Council and Pyrton Parish Council: to amend the boundary between the parishes in order to include a new development of 100 dwellings within Watlington parish.
- Nuneham Parish Council: to group Nuneham Parish Council with one of its neighbouring parish councils.
No clear majority emerged with respect to the proposals for:
- Didcot Town Council: to alter the LGBCE warding arrangements and retain pre-LGBCE review ones.
- Woodcote Parish Council: to increase the number of councillors from 10 to 12.
- Shirburn Parish Meeting and Pyrton Parish Council: to amend the boundary with Pyrton parish to include the whole of Shirburn Castle Park within Shirburn parish.
Here you can read about all the proposals and the results of this consultation.
We did
Once the consultation closed, the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee (the 'Committee') reviewed the feedback and made final recommendations on which proposals should be taken to a second round of consultation, and which ones should not be considered any further. To learn more, please visit their website to read the report and the minutes of the Committee meeting. A second round of consultation for the final proposal launched on Thursday 18 June 2026.
We asked
The councils consulted drivers, proprietors, operators and the public on the Joint Taxi Licensing Policy consultation from Tuesday 20 January until 11:59pm on Tuesday 10 March 2026. The Councils have a responsibility to ensure the policy remains current and compliant with legislation, and we aim to review it at least every five years. As part of this review, amendments were proposed to various sections of the policy, including minor clarifications and updates to reflect changes in guidance from central government.
You said
A total of 131 responses were received, with 46 per cent being from individuals/members of the public.
The consultation asked respondents for their feedback on the following:
Proposed changes specific to South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse
88 respondents provided 177 comments, and the most frequently mentioned topics included feedback on the revised target for zero emission vehicles from 2030 to 2045, mandatory acceptance of card/mobile payments and general comments on the climate and health impacts contributed by taxi drivers.
Changes from the Department for Transport (DfT) Best Practice Guidance
76 respondents provided 78 comments, many of which raised concerns towards the tinted windows proposal, which proposed an increase in the level of permitted tint to 30% of light transmission, this was previously 70%. Other feedback included the removal of requirement for a fire extinguisher in a licensed vehicle and vehicle daily condition checks.
Policy amendments which relate to changes already made to how we work and guidance on existing legislation
66 respondents provided 143 comments. Key topics included the proposal that drivers must have held a DVLA licence for at least 12 months to commence the application process, and in relation to the added condition to the policy for operator booking staff to have passed the relevant disability awareness and safeguarding training.
You can find out more about the comments received and view the full consultation report and the consultation report appendix.
We did
All the comments have been reviewed, and an officer has provided a response where required which is available to view in the consultation report appendix. In response to some of the comments received, a few minor changes were made to encourage licence holders to continue to take cash payments, and to suggest they advise anyone booking a journey if they do not accept cash payment, and to make it clearer that vehicles with an exemption from the requirement to display taxi plate are also exempt from the tinted windows criteria.
The consultation report along with a final version of the proposed taxi licensing policy was shared with the General Licensing Committees in June 2026. The results were considered and were discussed at the committee meetings. The policy was adopted with effect from 17 June 2026.