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Council services over Christmas and New Year 2025/26

A guide to council services over the Christmas and New Year period when the council offices are closed to the public. 

Latest news

December 12, 2025

Council expresses disappointment at Great Western Park surgery delay

Vale of White Horse District Council has expressed its disappointment following an update issued this week by the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System Board (BOB ICB) regarding the delivery of the new GP surgery at Great Western Park in Didcot.

Decorative montage of landscape images

December 12, 2025

Joint Local Plan examination hearings could continue after Government announcement

The examination hearings for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils Joint Local Plan could continue after the government announced it intends to remove the Duty to Co-operate from the plan making process. Following a ministerial statement from Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, the government has indicated that […]

vale of white horse district council logo

December 11, 2025

Leader’s Report                                          

Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council – report from the Council meeting on 10 December 2025

Image showing a map of Oxfordshire and Berkshire as part of a mayoral strategic authority.

December 4, 2025

A call for Oxfordshire and Berkshire to be in the next wave of Strategic Authorities

The Cabinets at South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have supported the submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) to government for a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) in the Thames Valley region. Councillor David Rouane, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said:“Oxfordshire and Berkshire together make sense for a strategic authority. These […]

vale of white horse district council logo

December 2, 2025

Statement: Thames Valley CCTV Partnership 

On Friday 28 November the Police and Crime Commissioner briefed the press to claim four Oxfordshire councils had refused funds for CCTV, even though all of them remained in ongoing conversations about the plans.

December 1, 2025

Councils continue to support disabled and vulnerable residents through the Disabled Facilities Grant 

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils continue to offer the Disabled Facilities Grant to help disabled and vulnerable residents make their homes safer, more comfortable, and better suited to their needs.  The Disabled Facilities Grant is a means-tested grant providing financial help for home adaptations such as installing ramps and stairlifts for […]

vale of white horse district council logo

November 26, 2025

Councils announce preferred candidate for new Chief Executive

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have published details of the preferred candidate to be their new, shared Chief Executive. A recruitment process got underway after the previous Chief Executive’s departure, and members of the councils’ Joint Staff Committee have now recommended Adrianna Partridge to be the new shared Chief Executive and […]

The image is a medium-close shot of a young woman wearing a bright orange, reflective work jacket and black gloves. She is standing outdoors next to a green recycling bin that is overflowing with cardboard boxes and some other plastic and metal waste. The woman is looking directly at the camera with a neutral to slightly serious expression and giving a thumbs-down gesture with her right hand. Her left hand is resting near the large, brown cardboard boxes that are precariously stacked on the bin. She has her blonde hair pulled back. In the background, on a paved area that appears to be a works yard or street, there are several large refuse collection trucks, one of which is white and partially visible on the left, and another with bright orange and yellow reflective hazard stripes on its back is visible on the right. The day is overcast.

November 24, 2025

Household rubbish can only be collected if bin lids are fully closed

Find out why and what to do if you have excess waste or recycling

November 20, 2025

A win-win for White Horse Lottery supporters and local organisations

The White Horse Community Lottery is giving residents an extra reason to take part this season. Anyone entering before Saturday 29 November will be in with a chance to win a Nintendo Switch 2 bundle (or cash alternative) along with £500 for their chosen cause – a win-win for residents and the community this Christmas.

Vale of White Horse District Council logo

November 20, 2025

Botley Pavilion set to transform community wellbeing  

Botley is one step closer to having a welcoming space for the community and local sports clubs, thanks to funding support for the Pavilion’s development.   Botley and North Hinksey Parish Council is set to receive £250,000 in Community Infrastructure Levy funding from Vale of White Horse District Council towards the delivery of phase one of […]