YET another district council is set to appoint a new leader tomorrow – bringing the total of new leaders this year in Oxfordshire to three.

Roger Cox, who is the deputy leader of Vale of White Horse District Council and represents Faringdon, is set to be appointed as successor to Matthew Barber.

Mr Barber, the council's leader for seven years, will start a full-time role as deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley later this month.

Mr Cox's deputy leader is set to be named as Ed Blagrove, who is currently the council's cabinet member for corporate services.

Other appointments to committees, panels and joint committees will also be made at The Beacon in Wantage from 7pm.

Mr Cox's likely appointment will mean that his council, Oxford City Council and South Oxfordshire District Council have all appointed new leaders in 2018.

Susan Brown was appointed leader of the city council in January, taking over from Bob Price. Mr Price had been council leader for 10 years and a councillor since 1983 but stood down as a councillor in May.

Jane Murphy is the new leader of South Oxfordshire District Council having been appointed last month. She took over from John Cotton, who had resigned following political turmoil in his own Conservative group over issues including its critical Local Plan.

The other leaders in Oxfordshire are the county council's leader Ian Hudspeth, Cherwell District Council leader Barry Wood and West Oxfordshire District Council leader James Mills.