Oxford City Council is holding an additional council meeting on 3 September to agree amendments to its 2026/27 budget.
The meeting will be used to discuss the allocation of additional funding for community improvements, democratic transparency and supporting youth employment, as well as rectifying a technical error in its Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget.
In the meeting, the Council will propose the use of £410,000 to provide additional support to local communities in Oxford. The additional budget, which uses around half the expected underspend from the previous financial year, aims to help deliver additional community improvements, improve democratic transparency and support youth employment during 2026-2027. It builds on discussions between the political groups from when the Council’s administration was formed after the 2026 local elections.
If Members approve the recommended use of reserves for this, then the proposed spend is:
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£40,000 to support the renovation of public toilets in Oxford
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£5,000 to enhance the unique natural assets and conservation at Port Meadow through the provision of public information points
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£115,000 to add to existing resources with which to enhance the appearance and practicality of street facilities around the city. For example, pavement and road improvements, planters or additional cleaning, improving waste management, new bus stops, improved public hygiene etc
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£60,000 to invest in the maintenance of notice boards in public spaces which are used by residents and visitors
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£50,000 to support the conversion of Summertown United Reform Church Community Centre into a community resource, matching very substantial private fundraising which has already taken place
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£50,000 to fund a dedicated Scrutiny Officer to support work of the Scrutiny committee
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£50,000 to fund an additional apprentice role in recognition of the challenges faced by those not in education, employment or training
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£40,000 to support the provision of free swimming lessons, with the goal of improving water safety for children who currently lack access to lessons.
The funding could also support a feasibility study into the options for potential future investment at Blackbird Leys Bowls Club. This would come from existing capital programme budget, which could be utilised at the appropriate time.
The meeting will also be used to rectify a technical error in the council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget.
A regular review of the 2026-2027 HRA budget in July 2026 identified that a calculation had used an out-of-date figure for the UK's inflation rate. Council will be asked to approve £3.5m from reserves to rectify this making it a balanced budget. The technical error has had no impact on council tenants. A report will be brought to the Council’s Audit and Governance Committee to look at how processes can be improved to reduce the risk of errors in future.
If Members approve the recommended use of reserves, Oxford City Council will still have £4.3m in its HRA reserves, which is more than the £4m minimum level required.
Comment
"The additional meeting gives us an opportunity to allocate a further £410,000 to a wide range of community improvements across Oxford, all helping to make the city an even better place for everyone. It will also ensure the Housing Revenue Account budget is updated at the earliest opportunity following the identification of a technical error."
Ed Turner, Deputy Leader (Statutory), and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management
