Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2025.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16 September 2025 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive communications from the Chair.

There were no Chair’s announcements.

The Chair to report on any requests to address the meeting.

There were no requests to address the meeting.

The Chair to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

This report sets out the capital bid, investments, efficiencies and income changes for Cherwell District Council for the period 2026/27 to 2030/31.

Recommendations

The Budget Planning Committee resolves:

1.1       To provide feedback on the capital bid, investments, efficiencies and income changes to provide to the Executive to consider in finalising its 2026/27 budget proposal.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the Budget Planning Committee provide the following feedback to Executive on the capital bids, investments, efficiencies and income changes in the 2026/27 budget proposal.

·                That the Executive be requested to give consideration to carrying out a specific consultation on the proposed move to a three weekly residual waste (green bin) collection (saving reference EEV12601, Three-weekly residual waste collections).

·                That the Budget Planning Committee be provided with further information on how the 265k saving (reference EEV12601, Three-weekly residual waste collections) nets out and is profiled over the MTFS.

·                That the Executive be requested to give consideration to the Town/Parish Council contribution in regard to the proposed saving of reduced frequency of Oxfordshire County Council highways verge mowing (saving reference EEV22601, reduced frequency of OCC highway verge mowing in Banbury, Bicester & Kidlington).

The Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer) submitted a report that set out the capital bids, investments, efficiencies and income charges for Cherwell District Council for the period 2026/27 to 2030/31.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Regeneration and Property explained that uncertainties around government funding (anticipated business rates reset and fair funding proposals that changed the core funding that the Council receive), rising costs, and growing demands on services had made planning for the 2026/27 budget and updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) very challenging.

The Government’s Policy Statement on local government funding for 2026/27 to 2028/29 had been published on 20 November 2025. Whilst it provided an outline of the policy settings that would be used, details of the provisional settlement would not be announced until the week commenced 15 December 2025. At the time of publishing the report, all funding forecasts were based on modelling provided by the council’s funding advisors. To balance the budget, consultation on £1.8 million of new savings proposals and operational efficiencies for next year to help mitigate the impact of the funding changes, was underway.

In February 2026, as part of their proposed budget for 2026/27, the Executive would consider feedback from Budget Planning Committee on the budget proposals and consider feedback from the public on the budget consultation. In determining which of the budget proposals would be included in the proposed budget for 2026/27, the Executive would also consider the outcome of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and other resources available through Council Tax and Business Rates.

The Assistant Director of Finance gave a presentation which provided an update on the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). When the current budget had been agreed in February 2025, there was an identified funding gap for 2026/27 of £5 million. Calculating over the MTFS period, the annual ongoing gap of the budget identified £16 million savings would need to be identified.

The Assistant Director of Finance advised that the Council had received confirmation that the grant for 2026/2027 would be of £1.7million, £300k more than was budgeted for in the previous. It was anticipated that this amount would be received on an ongoing basis and £1.7million would therefore be built into the budget and MTFS for future years. 

Throughout the year, figures had been revised to reflect improvements, investment proposals and the efficiencies that were currently being consulted on, as well as confirmation in the Government Fairer Funding consultation that a number of grants the council previously received would be rolled into the overall funding to the council. There was a £1.8million improvement in 2026/27 compared to the position in February 2025 and an ongoing impact of £7million.

In response to a question regarding how the council would use any additional monies, if received, under the retained pooling income, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Regeneration and Property advised that not all information had yet been received.  Once the Government had concluded its consultation and finalised and published all information,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

This report is to provide information to the Committee on proposed Fees and Charges as compared to some other districts to feed back to the Executive as part of the 2026/27 Budget and Business Planning Process.

Recommendations

The Budget Planning Committee resolves:

1.1         To note the benchmarking information between the council’s fees and charges and those of other Oxfordshire districts.

1.2         To recommend any changes to the fees and charges schedule to Executive when considering the budget.

Resolved

(1)  That the benchmarking information between the council’s fees and charges and those of other Oxfordshire districts be noted.

(2)  That, having given due consideration, the Executive be advised that the Budget Planning Committee have no recommended changes to the fees and charges schedule.

The Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer) submitted a report to provide information to the Committee on proposed Fees and Charges as compared to some other districts to feed back to the Executive as part of the 2026/27 Budget and Business Planning Process.

In response to a question on the proposed percentage increase for table and chairs consent, the Head of Regulatory Servies and Community Safety advised that a consultation was underway on the new Policy, including the fees. The Leader of the Council confirmed that he would ask the Portfolio Holder would investigate further with officers. The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Regeneration and Property subsequently clarified that the higher uplift was a result of calculating differently, 

In response to a comment from the Committee that the proposed car parking fee increase was above inflation (CPI)  and query if consideration could be given to providing  free parking for up to two hours in council operated car parks, in particular in Bicester, potentially through money earmarked for the market square project, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration advised that the market square funding was fairly specific but undertook to look into the matter. The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration highlighted that two hours free parking was already available at the Sainsburys car park for in Bicester.  Executive would nonetheless consider consultation responses in respect of this, however should any action be taken, there would be an impact on other services as funds would need to be founds.

It was proposed by Councillor Sibley and seconded by Councillor Wood that the Executive be requested to give consideration to reducing the proposed increase in car parking fees. On being put to the vote, the motion was lost and subsequently fell.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To report to the committee the council’s financial position at the end of the financial year 2025-2026 as at 31 October 2025.

Recommendations

The Budget Planning Committee resolves:

1.1     To note the contents of this report.  

Resolved

(1)      That the report be noted

The Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report to update the Committee on the council’s financial positions at the end of the financial year 2025/2026 as at 31 October 2025.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration advised that the year-end revenue position for 2025/26 at the end of October was a projected overspend of £0.400m.

Since September, the overall position had worsened by £0.292m, which was mainly due to increased pressures in Resources of £0.102m and Neighbourhood Services of £0.162m, which reflected rising operational costs and demand pressures. Offsetting these overspends were significant and stable underspends in Executive Matters (£1.269m), Policy Contingency (£1.100m), which together provided a strong mitigating effect against directorate-level increases.

Resolved

(1)      That the report be noted

To review the Committee Work Plan.

Resolved

That, subject to a Committee request for an additional item, a report on the revenue from the Council’s car parking charges to the 10 March 2026 meeting, the work programme be noted.

The Committee considered its work plan. Following the discussion under agenda item 8 (Minute 26) on car parking fees Cherwell District Council (CDC) operated car parks, Councillor Sibley requested that an item detailing revenue from car parking fees in CDC operated car parks be submitted to the 10 March 2026 meeting. The Chair and Vice-Chair undertook to liaise with officers to agree the scope of the item.

Resolved

That, subject to a Committee request for an additional item, a report on the fee revenue from Cherwell District Council operated car parks to the 10 March 2026 meeting, the work programme be noted.