No overall majority was won at the authority when the city went to the polls across 24 wards on May 7, with half of the council’s seats up for grabs.

The makeup of the next Oxford administration is uncertain, as “conversations” to decide how the authority will be run are set to continue into the weekend.

Labour, which previously ran a minority administration with 21 seats, remains the council’s largest party with 20 seats.

The party lost two seats and made one gain.

One of the councillors who lost his seat was Alex Hollingsworth, a former city council leader, who is also the partner of de facto leader Susan Brown.

The ongoing discussions could end with Labour continuing to run the council as a minority or in an alliance, potentially with the Greens, who were celebrating “historic” gains.

The Green Party received the highest percentage of votes at the Oxford elections and came away with 13 seats, having gained four, its highest number ever on the council.

The Lib Dems held their seats, but made no gains at the election and had been in talks with the Greens about working together to run the council.

These talks have since fallen through.

Cllr Chris Jarvis, who was the Green group leader heading into the elections and is now its deputy, ruled out working with the Independent Oxford Alliance (IOA), over differing opinions on issues such as transport.

Previously, IOA leader Cllr David Henwood said the party’s door “remains open” to the Greens or Labour.

He stated: “IOA leader, Cllr David Henwood, said: “The Greens have made it clear that they will not work with the IOA.

“However, our door remains open, as we all have a duty to deliver the services required by law to the people of Oxford.”

Negotiations remain ongoing.

The timetable for local government reorganisation currently suggests that, following a decision on whether Oxfordshire will have one, two or three authorities set to be unveiled in July this year, “shadow authority” elections will be held in 2027.

This would be in place ahead of the new authority or authorities being set up by April 2028.

This means whoever takes control of the council may have less than a year in charge.

Meanwhile, the impact of these local elections has been playing out on a national stage with a leadership crisis for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, following major losses for the Labour Party across the UK.

Hinksey Outdoor Pool in Hinksey Park, off Abingdon Road, is due to celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, and opens on Saturday.

Operators say more than £200,000 has been invested ahead of the 2026 season, with the improvements designed to help maintain a more consistent water temperature while reducing downtime and energy use.

While much of the work will not be visible to swimmers, the reopening is expected to bring the heated lido back into action after a delayed start to the year.

The outdoor pool will reopen on Saturday, with the 2026 outdoor swimming season running through to Sunday, September 27.

In March this year, the plant room at Hinksey had flooded during preparations for the new season, damaging electrical systems and mechanical equipment including the pool pumps.

The site includes a splash park in summer, a large play area, table tennis, tennis courts, open grass areas and other leisure facilities.

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Hinksey Outdoor Pool (Image: Elsie from the block)

The 2026 pricing page lists casual entry at £6.40 for adults, £4.10 for juniors and £4.10 for concessions.

Heated showers will again be available before and after swims.

Oxford has lost many of its official bathing spots such as Tumbling Bay.

In April 2022 Wolvercote Mill Stream, north of Port Meadow, became the second stretch of river in the UK to achieve Designated Bathing Water Status.

However, the area is downstream of sewage treatment works which frequently discharge untreated waste.

In May 2024 Wallingford Beach on the River Thames was designated as a bathing site.

Kyle Cox, of Harebell Road, Oxford, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, May 14.

The 23-year-old was charged after a stabbing at Northfield Close, near the junction with Alice Smith Square in the Littlemore area of Oxford, at around midnight on Thursday, December 11 last year.

Cox pleaded guilty to wounding Zachary Stone and having a Samurai sword in a public place.

The victim suffered serious injuries and was sent to hospital.

Alexandra Bushell, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Stone was in a relationship with Cox’s ex-girlfriend at the time of the attack.

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The crime scene at the time (Image: TVP)

Mr Stone was at her house and Cox was outside, shouting for her.

The court heard Mr Stone asked him to leave, which is when Cox’s mood changed.

He pulled out a Samurai sword and started to swing it around. He struck Mr Stone’s hip twice and then went for his face.

Mr Stone blocked this, but the top of his thumb was sliced off.

Ms Bushell told the court the victim was in ‘extreme pain’ and felt ‘dizzy and sick’.

The police were called and Cox was arrested the next morning.

Mr Stone was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington and had to have two blood transfusions and a metal plate inserted into his hip.

Ms Bushell then read out Mr Stone’s victim impact statement.

It said: “Since the incident, I have suffered physically and mentally. I have had three surgeries since the attack.

“The top part of my thumb was sliced off in the incident. The impact has been massive. I can no longer play the guitar which I enjoyed doing.

“I have been struggling with my emotions since the incident. I will have to manage and cope with the injuries for the rest of my life.”

The court heard that Cox has six previous convictions for seven offences, including a bladed article offence.

Ms Bushell said: “There was a significant degree of planning. It was a highly dangerous weapon. It caused a grave injury.”

Peter Du Feu, mitigating, said: “The defendant is hugely frustrated by what he has done.

“He’s had no support from mental health services in prison. He is absolutely clean of substances at the moment.

“This was a love rivalry, but to behave as he did was quite unforgivable. He responded very badly indeed.

“He is determined to bounce back from this.”

Judge Ian Pringle KC (Image: NQ)

Judge Ian Pringle KC said: “This was the use of a highly dangerous weapon.”

Cox was jailed for a total of six years.

He was given a restraining order against the victim until a further order is made.

An order was also made for the forfeiture of the Samurai sword.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Ben Heath said: “This was a completely unprovoked attack in which a man was stabbed with a samurai-style sword. The offender brought the weapon with him and clearly intended to use it.

“As a result, the victim suffered multiple serious injuries, many of which he will have to live with for the rest of his life.

“This sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence. Thames Valley Police take crimes involving weapons extremely seriously, and this outcome demonstrates our ongoing commitment to removing dangerous offenders and weapons from our streets to help keep our communities safe.”