Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive communications from the Chair and/or the Leader of the Council.

Meeting Length and Etiquette

The Chair referred to the email sent by the Monitoring Officer to all Members regarding budget setting at the Council meeting. It was the responsibility of all Members to ensure that the district council set a lawful budget at the meeting this evening.

The Chair asked Councillors to be respectful of each other when addressing the meeting. If necessary, the Chair would adjourn the meeting to allow for a comfort break at a suitable point.

16 March Council meeting

The Chair advised that the next scheduled Council meeting was on Monday 16 March. This meeting would include written questions and motions. The submission deadlines were set out on the agenda.

Chair’s Charity Lunch, 7 March

The Chair referred to her Charity Lunch which was taking place on 7 March which will support three truly worthy charities - Homeless Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire Homeless Movement, and Asylum Welcome. The Chair thanked those who had confirmed they were able to attend and looked forward to seeing them at the lunch. The Chair asked Members to speak directly to her or to her PA if they were unable to attend but would like to make a donation.

Members’ Pigeon Holes

Members were reminded to check their pigeon hole and take any post.

The Chair to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

Addresses may be presented by:

·       A Local Government elector for the area,

·       A person who is wholly or mainly resident in the area,

·       A Council Taxpayer or National Non-Domestic Ratepayer for the area

Addresses must be on an item on the Agenda before the meeting and not exceed 5 minutes. No person may address more than one meeting on any particular issue.

Requests to address the meeting (including the agenda item and reason for the address) should be submitted to democracy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk  The deadline for requests to address this meeting is noon on Friday 20 February 2026.

The deadline to present a petition to this meeting has passed.

Full details of public participation at meetings is available in the Constitution.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of Council held on 15 December 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2025 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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

Report of Assistant Director Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer

Purpose of report

To determine the levels of the allowances to be paid to Members for the forthcoming 2026/2027 financial year and proposed changes to the Members’ Allowance Scheme, following the consideration of the report of the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel (the “Panel”) attached at Appendix 1. 

Recommendations

Council resolves:

1.1           To consider the levels of allowances to be included in the 2026/2027 Members’ Allowances Scheme, and whether the Panel’s recommendations (as set out at paragraph 3.1 of this report and section 2) should be adopted or modified in any way.

1.2           To authorise the Assistant Director Law and Governance to prepare an amended Members’ Allowances Scheme, in accordance with the decisions of Council for implementation with effect from 1 April 2026. 

1.3           To authorise the Assistant Director of Law and Governance to take all necessary action to revoke the current (2025/2026) Scheme and to publicise the revised Scheme pursuant to The Local Authorities (Member’s Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (as amended). 

1.4           To thank the Independent Remuneration Panel for its report and confirm a fee of £300 for each Panel Member for the work carried out on this review; and to delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Law & Governance to apply the same final percentage increase to the IRP fee, in line with the staff pay award (when agreed), for any reviews carried out in 2026/2027.

Resolved

(1)          That having given due consideration, the following levels of allowance be included in the 2026/2027 Members’ Allowance Scheme:

·         That the Basic Allowance be increased in in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026.

·         That the current combined Special Responsibility Allowance covering both the Chair of the Licensing Acts Committee and Chair of the General Licensing Committee end, and separate SRAs be introduced for the Chair of each Committee at the current combined SRA level.

·         That all Special Responsibility Allowances be increased in in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026.

·         That the co-optees allowance be increased in in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026.

·         That the Independent Persons allowance be increased in in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026.

·         That Dependents’ Carers’ and Childcare Allowances remain at the current level, are paid on the basis of the actual costs incurred up to the maximum hourly rate set out below and to a maximum cap of 40 hours per month, subject to production of receipts and cannot be paid to a member of the claimant’s household:

o   Childcare: £10 per hour

o   Dependent Relative care - £20 per hour

·         That mileage remain at the current level in line with HMRC approved mileage rates, and if any adjustments are implemented by HMRC then the revised rates should be applied to Members’ travel allowances effective from the date of implementation by HMRC.

o   Bicycles: 20p per mile

o   Motorcycles (any cc) – 24p per mile

o   Motor Vehicles (any cc) – 45p per mile

o   Electric or similar specialised vehicles – 45p per mile

·         That the rates for subsistence allowance remain at the current level in line with the maximum staff subsistence levels, with claims permitted on approved duties of over 5 hours outside the district*, subject to the submission of receipts (*subsistence allowances cannot be claimed for any duties within the district as the basic allowance is deemed to cover all within district expenses).

o   Breakfast: £7.50

o   Lunch: £10.50

o   Tea / coffee: £4.00

o   Evening Meal: £12.50

·         That Democratic Services continue to book overnight accommodation if required.

·         That there be no change to the list of approved duties for which claims may be made.

·         That Non-Executive Director allowances be increased in in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026 and costs recharged to the relevant company.

(2)          That the Assistant Director Law and Governance be authorised to prepare an amended Members’ Allowances Scheme, in accordance with the decisions of Council for implementation with effect from 1 April 2026. 

(3)          That the  ...  view the full decision text for item 66.

The Assistant Director Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer submitted a report for Council to determine the levels of the allowances to be paid to Members for the forthcoming 2026/2027 financial year and proposed changes to the Members’ Allowance Scheme, following the consideration of the report of the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel.

Resolved

(1)          That having given due consideration, the following levels of allowance be included in the 2026/2027 Members’ Allowance Scheme:

·         That the Basic Allowance be increased in in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026.

·         That the current combined Special Responsibility Allowance covering both the Chair of the Licensing Acts Committee and Chair of the General Licensing Committee end, and separate SRAs be introduced for the Chair of each Committee at the current combined SRA level.

·         That all Special Responsibility Allowances be increased in in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026.

·         That the co-optees allowance be increased in in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026.

·         That the Independent Persons allowance be increased in in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026.

·         That Dependents’ Carers’ and Childcare Allowances remain at the current level, are paid on the basis of the actual costs incurred up to the maximum hourly rate set out below and to a maximum cap of 40 hours per month, subject to production of receipts and cannot be paid to a member of the claimant’s household:

o   Childcare: £10 per hour

o   Dependent Relative care - £20 per hour

·         That mileage remain at the current level in line with HMRC approved mileage rates, and if any adjustments are implemented by HMRC then the revised rates should be applied to Members’ travel allowances effective from the date of implementation by HMRC.

o   Bicycles: 20p per mile

o   Motorcycles (any cc) – 24p per mile

o   Motor Vehicles (any cc) – 45p per mile

o   Electric or similar specialised vehicles – 45p per mile

·         That the rates for subsistence allowance remain at the current level in line with the maximum staff subsistence levels, with claims permitted on approved duties of over 5 hours outside the district*, subject to the submission of receipts (*subsistence allowances cannot be claimed for any duties within the district as the basic allowance is deemed to cover all within district expenses).

o   Breakfast: £7.50

o   Lunch: £10.50

o   Tea / coffee: £4.00

o   Evening Meal: £12.50

·         That Democratic Services continue to book overnight accommodation if required.

·         That there be no change to the list of approved duties for which claims may be made.

·         That Non-Executive Director allowances be increased in in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

Report of Assistant Director Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To consider and agree the Budget Setting for 2026/27 and MTFS 2030/31 as per the recommendations.

Recommendations

Council resolves to:

1.1         Have regard to the statutory report of the Chief Finance Officer (Section 25 report) at Appendix 3 in approving recommendations 1.2 – 1.10. 

1.2         Approve the proposed Fees and Charges schedule for 2026/27 (Appendix 7) and statutory notices be placed where required.

1.3         Consider and note the Equality Impact Assessments of the Budget (Appendix 8)

1.4         In relation to the Corporate Plan (Section 4.1) to:

1.4.1    Note the Corporate Plan Vision and Strategy set out in Appendix 1.

1.4.2    Approve the Annual Delivery Plan set out in Appendix 2.

1.5         In relation to the Revenue Budget Strategy (Section 4.2) and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (Section 4.6) to approve:

1.5.1    The net revenue budget for the financial year commencing on 1 April 2026, as set out in Table 4.2.1, and further analysed in the Budget Book provided at Appendix 12.

1.5.2    The MTFS and Revenue Budget 2026/27 (Sections 4.6 and 4.2 respectively), including the Savings Proposals and Investments included at Appendices 4 and 5 respectively.

1.6         In relation to Council Tax (Section 4.2.51) to approve:

1.6.1    An increase in the Basic Amount of Council Tax for Cherwell District Council for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2026 of £5, resulting in a Band D charge of £163.50 per annum.

1.6.2    From 1 April 2027 the implementation of a premium (second homes premium) of 100% for dwellings that are no one’s sole or main residence and are substantially furnished, following consultation undertaken in November and December 2024 which showed 88% support for the introduction.

1.6.3    That the mandatory notice of 12 months to all owners of second homes that a premium will commence from 1 April 2027 be issued.

1.6.4    That relevant exceptions be applied as set out by Government guidance (Appendix 24).

1.6.5    It be noted that the Council Tax Base 2026/27 was determined at the Executive meeting held on 6 January 2026:

a)            for the whole Council area as 60,654.5 [item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (“the 1992 Act”)]; and

b)            For dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish Precept relates as in the attached Appendix 23.

1.6.6    That the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2026/27 (excluding Parish Precepts and Special Expenses) is £9,917,011.

1.6.7    following amounts be calculated for the year 2026/27 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the 1992 Act:

a)            £162,009,253 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (2) of the 1992 Act, taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils and any additional special expenses.

b)            £145,153,645 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) of the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 67.

Resolved

(1)          That, having due regard, the statutory report of the Chief Finance Officer (Section 25 report) be noted.

(2)          That the proposed Fees and Charges schedule for 2026/27 be approved and it be noted that statutory notices would be placed where required.

(3)          That, having given due consideration, the Equality Impact Assessments of the Budget be noted.

(4)          That the Corporate Plan Vision and Strategy be noted.

(5)          That the Annual Delivery Plan be approved.

(6)          That, in relation to the Revenue Budget Strategy and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), the following net directorate revenue budgets for the financial year commencing on 1 April 2026 be agreed.

(7)          That the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Revenue Budget 2026/27, including the Savings Proposals and Investments be approved.

(8)          That an increase in the Basic Amount of Council Tax for Cherwell District Council for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2026 of £5, resulting in a Band D charge of £163.50 per annum, be approved.

(9)          That, following consultation undertaken in November and December 2024 which showed 88% support for the introduction, the implementation from 1 April 2027 of a premium (second homes premium) of 100% for dwellings that are no one’s sole or main residence and are substantially furnished be approved.

(10)       That it be approved that the mandatory notice of 12 months to all owners of second homes that a premium will commence from 1 April 2027 be issued.

(11)       That it be approved that relevant exceptions be applied as set out by Government guidance (Appendix 24 to the report).

(12)       That it be noted that that the Council Tax Base 2026/27 was determined at the Executive meeting held on 6 January 2026:

a)            for the whole Council area as 60,654.5 [item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (“the 1992 Act”)].

b)            For dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish Precept relates (Appendix 23 to the report).

(13)       That it be agreed that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2026/27 (excluding Parish Precepts and Special Expenses) is £9,917,011.

(14)       That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2026/27 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the 1992 Act:

a)            £162,009,253 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (2) of the 1992 Act, taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils and any additional special expenses.

b)            £145,153,645 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) of the 1992 Act.

c)            £16,855,608 being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by  ...  view the full decision text for item 67.

Prior to consideration of the item, the Chair advised that the Cherwell Conservative and Independent Alliance had proposed an amendment to the budget which had been published as a supplement to the agenda. There were no amendments proposed by any other Political Group and no further amendments were now permitted.

The Chair explained that once the budget had been proposed and seconded, the Leader of the Cherwell Conservative and Independent Alliance, Councillor Reeves, would respond to the budget and propose the Group’s amendment. Once seconded, the amendment would be debated and voted on.

The Chair reminded Members that the arrangements for debating the budget were set out in the meeting procedure rules. The proposer, when presenting the budget, and Group Leaders, when responding to the budget, may speak for up to 10 minutes. All other speakers had a three-minute time limit. 

The Chair also reminded Members that it was required in legislation that the vote on any motion on or amendment to the budget and council tax setting reports must be a recorded vote. This would be taken at the appropriate time.

The Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report for Council to consider and agree the Budget Setting for 2026/27 and MTFS 2030/31.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration, Councillor McLean, explained that the report was the culmination of the Budget and Business Planning process for 2026/27 to 2030/31 and set out the Executive’s proposed Corporate Plan and related revenue budget for 2026/27, medium term financial strategy to 2030/31, capital programme to 2030/31 and all supporting policies, strategies, and information which had been recommended to Council by Executive at their 3 February 2026 meeting.

The proposed net budget for the council was £32.3m, an increase of £6.1m from 2025/26. The council planned to fund £1.9m of service investments and would set aside £1.3m of Development Funds for Strategic Development (£0.4m) and Local Area Development (£0.9m). The council would also deliver £2.3m of savings proposals and operational efficiencies as part of the 2026/27 budget.  A Band D Council Tax of £163.50 was proposed for the year which is an increase of £5 compared to 2025/26. The Capital Programme for the period 2026/27 – 2030/31 was proposed to be £31.6m. 

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration thanked to Budget Planning Committee for their review of the the revenue budget savings proposals, service investments, capital bids and fees and charges and subsequent comments and the Accounts, Audit and Risk Committee for considering and recommending the Capital and Investment and Treasury Management Strategies.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration also thanked all respondents to the public consultation. In finalising the proposals, the Executive has taken into consideration feedback from the public consultation on the proposed Vision and Strategy, capital and revenue budget proposals and Council Tax increase.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration, Councillor McLean, paid tribute to the Assistant Director of Finance and the finance team for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.