Different tiers of local government are responsible for different things in our community and the diagram above shows how the Parish Council works with the South Oxfordshire District Council and the Oxfordshire County Council and other agencies to deliver your services.
Goring-on-Thames Parish Council (GPC) represents everyone in the civil parish of Goring-on-Thames, South Oxfordshire (see map of the Parish). GPC makes decisions on behalf of, and represents the interests of, the people in the parish. It is the level of local government closest to the community.
The Council consists of
- The clerk and her team – Assistant Clerk, (volunteer) Deputy Assistant Clerk, Burial Ground Clerk, Grounds & Facilities Manager and other support staff.
- Up to ten parish councillors elected every four years (next election May 2027) – currently we have 2 elected and 7 co-opted unpaid Councillors and one position open for option (see Notice of Casual Vacancy below).
The Full Council meet regularly, as do the various committees including Planning Committee, Finance Committee, Travel and Transport Committee, Playgrounds & Recreation spaces Committee, Staffing Committee, and Sheepcot Committee.
Candidates should read our Co-option Policy, and then fill out the Co-option Expression of Interest form and submit it by 12noon on Tuesday 7 April 2026.
For a summary of the roles and responsibilities of a parish councillor and an introduction to the work of the Parish Council, take a look around this website or discuss with the clerk or any councillor.
The eligibility criteria to be a Parish Councillor are that you must be:
- British or a citizen of the Commonwealth or European Union.
- At least 18 years old.
- Registered to vote in the area or have lived, worked or owned property there for at least 12 months before an election.
You can’t be a councillor if you:
- Work for the council you want to be a councillor for, or for another local authority in a political restricted post.
- Are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
- Have been sentenced to prison for three months or more (including suspended sentences) during the 5 years before election day.
- Have been convicted of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court.
- Are subject to the notification requirement of or under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
You may be disqualified following a conviction under the Localism Act 2011.
Further details available on the Electoral Commission’s website www.electoralcommission.org.uk
News
Unitary Council Proposals – consultation closing 26 March
Residents urged to respond to government consultation open from 5 February to 26 March 2026 on once-in-a-generation opportunity to change local councils see News page Residents can take part in the consultation by visiting https://consult.communities.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation/oxfordshire The options considered by the councils:
- A single county unitary proposal for Oxfordshire led by the county council
- The two-unitary proposal would create two councils; Oxford and Shires Council & Ridgeway Council
- The three-unitary proposal for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire led by Oxford City Council
Other
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