28/08/2026
What do councils do?
Councils are local authorities with different responsibilities and duties. There are three tiers of council that provide services to our town. As a result there can be a few confusing crossovers which sometimes makes it difficult for residents to understand who does what.
Witney’s local parish council is Witney Town Council, which only provides services to residents within the town itself. Other towns and villages have their own parish council.
Witney Town Council offers the services you would associate with community and recreation. Most of the town's Parks and Play Areas, the Lake and Country Park, some Civic and Community events, Allotments, Community Grants for local groups and Bus Shelters. Recently it has allocated budgets to fund Youth Services in the town.
It is a consultee on Local Planning. It can comment on applications, however, does not make the final planning decision.
It also has the responsibility of being the burial authority for the town and looks after the town’s cemeteries.
West Oxfordshire District Council is the next tier up. This is the council that provides services that might be considered more domestic. Waste and Recycling, Housing, Council Tax, Business Development, Trading Standards, larger Community Grants and makes decisions on Local Planning.
These services are available to all the towns and villages within West Oxfordshire.
It also maintains some parcels of land right across the district and takes on some land maintenance tasks, contracted out to it by the County Council.
Oxfordshire County Council is the top tier of local government and has the biggest budget.
It looks after the big stuff such as Education and Libraries, Transport and Social Care.
It is also responsible for the Maintenance and Repair of Roads (potholes) Pavements and most Verges.
You can get Witney Town Council-specific news and updates for services provided by the town council by following the WhatsApp Channel: www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCs9wh4Y9ljF515Jv24
