West Oxfordshire District Council Executive to consider balanced budget with freeze to garden waste charges and more investment in local priorities

The final draft of the Council’s budget shows that thanks to careful financial planning the Council can invest more resources into supporting the local economy, boosting local natural habitats, tackling fly-tipping, preventing homelessness and tackling violence against women.

Councillor Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Finance, said, "We have an ambitious plan to deliver better services, support communities and improve our district. Carefully managing our finances is crucial to being able to deliver on this agenda.

“Over recent years we have made significant efficiencies and managed services carefully which has put us in a position to once again invest in our communities and the things they have told us matter most.

"I am proud to say this council will be considering a balanced budget that delivers better council services to the residents and businesses of West Oxfordshire.”

A long-anticipated change to local government funding is due to come into effect this year. The Council has been planning for this and as a result of prudent financial management the Council is in a reasonably strong financial position for the coming years.

The Council’s investment property has performed well, and over the next year is expected to bring in over £2.5m in gross income which will be spent on local services. The recent sale of the Knight’s Court building in Oxford, for housing development, has also delivered an ongoing revenue saving of over £150,000 per year along with capital receipts which will help to fund the capital programme. The Council has also set aside funding to pay for the upcoming Local Government Reorganisation, along with the other councils across the county.

“Every pound of your council tax counts.” adds Councillor Smith. “We receive about 10% of the total council tax you pay, yet provide more than 50 services, from waste collections to dealing with fly tipping, to support for people facing homelessness.

“We have been working hard to prepare for anticipated changes to our funding. As such, we are now in a healthy position. Our longer-term financial forecast still has challenges; however, we are confident that with ongoing prudent management of our finances we can continue to invest in improving the district and delivering high quality services. 

“Ongoing careful financial management will be crucial to protecting local services as the government transitions to new unitary councils.”

The freeze to garden waste service charges keeps West Oxfordshire as the lowest charging council in the county for that service.

The budget includes a £5 increase on band D Council Tax, an assumption which has been built into the Government’s budgeting model over recent years.

The budget will go to Full Council on 25 February, where Councillors will be voting on the final budget.