Oxford city councillors have successfully obtained approval to perform their duties from nine different nations during 2026, while five similar applications have been denied, according to information obtained through freedom of legislation requests.
Elected representatives requested permission to conduct official business remotely from Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland and the United States.
All nine applications were granted for the upcoming year.
Seven applications from councillors to access their official email correspondence while abroad received approval during the current period.
However, five requests were turned down, with those applications seeking to work from Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Zambia.
Council workers have been conducting their responsibilities remotely from five countries over the past twenty-four months.
Staff members have logged working hours from Spain, Germany, Chile, South Africa and France.
Official records from the council indicate that staff accumulated 168 working days while based overseas last year.
The total for the current year currently stands at 24 working days.
The council emphasised that international remote working arrangements are sanctioned solely under extraordinary circumstances.
A comprehensive policy outlines the restricted scenarios permitting such arrangements.
A spokesperson stated that the council maintains stringent guidelines governing employee behaviour, information protection, technological requirements and data management when staff operate from international locations.
The framework ensures adherence to security protocols while allowing workers to fulfill their professional obligations effectively and meet all legal and operational standards.
The provisions also permit elected members to sustain proper communication channels and execute their council responsibilities during temporary absences from the United Kingdom.