RESIDENTS in Headington are being asked about plans to create a new council for the area – which will include paying more council tax.

Following the Headington neighbourhood planning referendum in 2017, the Headington Neighbourhood Forum asked Oxford City Council to consult on its proposal to create a council to cover the Headington Neighbourhood Area.

The law requires that a community governance review be carried out where a new community council is proposed.

Democratically elected bodies, community councils have two main roles – local representation and administration.

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They are also statutory consultees on planning matters and provide a focus for representing local issues and identity.

They can also provide services to the community that can include community grants, bus shelters, play areas, events and festivals.

Community councils are funded through a precept, a charge that is added to and collected as part of council tax.

The amount of the charge is something that each community council decides for itself.

It depends on what services and facilities the community council wants to provide.

The Headington area has an electorate of around 11,000.

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If the proposal goes ahead this would result in a possible number of councillors of between 15 and 20.

Oxford City Council is delivering a leaflet to all households in the affected area as part of its consultation.

The consultation gets underway on Friday and the deadline for comments is August 23.

The city council will take a final decision on the proposal in the autumn.

People can comment online at the council’s consultation portal via oxford.gov.uk/headingtoncommunitycouncil.