Oxford City Council has agreed to fund free bulky waste collections, new community wardens to tackle fly-tipping and more grass verge cuts as part of its latest Budget.
This is on top of £32m for homeless families, 1,376 new affordable homes, support for the Cowley Branch Line, and £1m to repair Oxford Ice Rink’s roof.
The Budget and medium-term financial plan, which covers 2026/27 to 2029/30, were agreed at a Full Council meeting on Monday night (23 February).
Oxford City Council remains the only council in Oxfordshire to publish a full four-year Budget – a sign of the organisation’s financial strength.
Budget and MTFP
The city council is responsible for local services including housing, planning, licensing, community centres, leisure centres, parks, bin collections and street cleaning.
The Budget will see the council spend about £320m on Oxford over the next four years.
In December, the council proposed a Budget that included:
- £385.6m to build or purchase 1,376 new affordable homes over the next six years – taking the council’s housing stock to about 9,000 homes by 2032
- £32m to help acquire up to 260 additional homes for Oxford residents who need temporary accommodation – taking the stock to 560 homes by 2028/29
- Funding for a Cowley Branch Line programme manager
- £1m for essential roof works at Oxford Ice Rink
- Reintroducing a creche at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre
In February, the government announced a new evidence-based funding formula for local government, which saw areas with higher deprivation receive more money.
As a result, Oxford City Council has received an additional £3.1m from the government over the next three-year settlement period.
Last night, the city council decided to partly invest this money in:
- £102,000 a year to make bulky waste collections free for all Oxford residents
- £390,000 a year to create a new team of community wardens to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly to report fly-tipping and catch fly-tippers
- £30,000 a year to carry out an additional cut of grass verges across Oxford – taking it to four cuts a year
During the annual Residents’ Survey last year, 43% of Oxford residents said rubbish or litter lying around was a problem in their local area. Residents named it the third worst anti-social behaviour in their areas – after speeding vehicles and badly parked cars.
On top of this, the council also decided to fund:
- £142,000 over four years to grit cycle paths during cold weather
- £100,000 a year for Oxford sports clubs to bid to improve their facilities
- £150,000 for additional play area and community centre maintenance
- £20,000 a year to support live music events in Oxford
- £30,000 for Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground to improve the outdoor space
- £200,000 towards improving the safety of boats moored on the River Thames from Folly Bridge to Iffley Lock
- A freeze on pitch booking fees for a second year
Oxford Model
Oxford City Council owns two companies, ODS and OX Place, that generate income to help fund the city’s frontline services.
This model – known as the ‘Oxford Model’ – is expected to generate about £12.6m in dividends for the council over the next four years.
In a typical year, the council’s income comes from dividends (7%), fees and charges (28%), council tax (21%), business rates (16%), commercial rent (20%), government grants (5%) and interest (3%).
Council Tax
Council Tax will increase by 2.99% in 2026/27. This is just below inflation, which was 3% in January.
For a Band D Council Tax property, a 2.99% increase equates to £10.66 per year (or 21p a week), bringing a total charge of £367.38 per annum (or £7.07 per week) to fund Oxford City Council and its services.
Separate Council Tax precepts support Oxfordshire County Council, the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and the parish councils in Blackbird Leys, Old Marston, Littlemore and Risinghurst & Sandhills.
Oxford City Council continues to provide a full discount on Council Tax for Oxford residents on the lowest incomes. It is one of relatively few councils across the UK to still do so.
In 2025, the City Council started charging double Council Tax to second homes and empty homes in Oxford. Council Tax is tripled for homes that are empty for five years and quadrupled if they are empty for 10.
Comment
“We often have feedback about people in politics are not listening. Well, we are.
“People said they were sick of dumped rubbish and wanted something done about it. With free bulky waste collections and stronger enforcement against fly-tippers, we are taking action.
“People also said they wanted to feel safer in their communities, so we have funded new wardens. They said they were sick of overgrown verges, so we have funded extra cuts. And they want us to build new homes, so we are funding over 1,600 new council homes.
“This Budget takes place against the backdrop of local government reorganisation, which will see Oxford City Council abolished in 2028. Nonetheless, we have set a four-year medium-term financial strategy to demonstrate that ours is a council that is able – on the basis of our highly successful Oxford Model – to balance its books.
“When the government chooses a future way for local government to be structured, I hope it takes note.”
Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management
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