Chair of the council

About the chair

The chair is the ceremonial head of the council. The chair must be a serving county councillor but must remain politically impartial. A chair must not be a member of the Cabinet.

Ceremonial duties include:

• being the politically impartial civic leader of Oxfordshire
• promoting the objectives and services of the county council and Oxfordshire
• acting as an ambassador for the county council and Oxfordshire
• fostering community identity and pride.

Key responsibilities include:

• presiding over meetings of the full council
• accepting invitations on behalf of the county council to attend events
• inviting individuals and representatives of key organisations to events at County Hall and other venues.

Chair, Councillor Ted Fenton 

Educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne, King’s College London (BD, AKC), and Magdalene College, Cambridge (PGCE) Ted moved to West Oxfordshire in 1985 to join Cokethorpe School. Over 35 years there, he held roles including Director of IT, Senior Tutor, Director of Studies, and later Senior Administrator, transitioning from teaching Religious Studies to IT and academic administration.

Councillor Ted Fenton was elected to West Oxfordshire District Council in 2015 (Bampton and Clanfield) and to Oxfordshire County Council in 2017 (Witney West and Bampton). In 2025, he was re-elected to represent the new division of Bampton and Carterton South.

Ted has been married to Hilary since 1998, he has three stepchildren, several young granddaughters, and a grown-up grandson. Ted retired early in 2020 to spend more time with family in France, though travel has been limited due to COVID and his wife's Alzheimer's diagnosis.

In his spare time, he enjoys cooking and practising the piano, when no one has to listen.                  

Vice Chair, Cllr Roz Smith 

Roz was born in Oxfordshire and has lived here for most of her life.  She went to secondary school in Oxford City, and college in Abingdon.  After taking early retirement from Oxford Brookes University, where she worked for the Sustainable Vehicle Engineering Centre, Roz has dedicated her time to local community projects and organisations.

Roz serves as a school governor at Windmill primary and Headington Quarry Nursery and as charity trustee for Risinghurst & Headington Community Associations and Headington Quarry Village Hall.  An active member of the Headington Action charity she chaired the volunteers group organising Headington Festival 2025.  Roz is also a member of the Oxford Street Pastors.

Roz has two grown up sons, a stepdaughter, nine beautiful granddaughters, six energetic grandsons.  Roz married Paul Rogers at Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry and helps there with the welcome team.

Events

If you would like to invite the Chair to an event, email  chairofthecouncil@oxfordshire.gov.uk