The Head of Financial Services has submitted a report which sets out the necessary calculation to enable Council to set the 2018/19 Council Tax for Oxford City.

The Board Member for Finance and Asset Management will move the recommendations and the Head of Financial Services will be available to answer questions.

Recommendations: Council is asked to approve for 2018/19:

1.    The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £13,556,751 including Parish precepts and £13,336,276 excluding Parish precepts.

2.    The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £298.86 a 2.99% increase on the 2017/18 figure of £290.19. Including Parish Precepts the figure is £303.80, a 2.98% increase (see paragraphs 2 to 6).

3.    A contribution of £10,000 to Old Marston Parish Council in recognition of the additional expenditure that the Parish incurs as a consequence of maintaining the cemetery (see paragraphs 12 and 13). 

4.    The amount of £577,644 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 16).

5.    The Band D Council Taxes for the various areas of the City (excluding the Police and County Council’s precepts) as follows:

Littlemore                                                   £336.08

Old Marston                                               £329.75

Risinghurst and Sandhills                     £318.77

Blackbird Leys                                          £297.30

Unparished Area                                      £301.32

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City-wide Council Tax of £285.92.

The Council is also asked to note:

6.    Oxfordshire County Council’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 19 in the report.

7.    The Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 20 in the report, and

8.    The overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax of £1,912.27 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for the County Council and Police and Crime Commissioner).

A recorded vote will be taken.

Council considered a report setting out the necessary calculation to enable Council to set the 2018/19 Council Tax for Oxford City. As there were no changes to the budget requirements as a result of the decision above these were unchanged from those in the report.

Councillor Turner proposed and Councillor Brown seconded the recommendations.

In accordance with legislative requirements, a recorded vote was then taken:

For the recommendations to Council  – Councillors Abbasi, Altaf-Khan, Azad, Brandt, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Cook, Fooks, Gant, Goddard, Goff, Haines, Hayes, Henwood, Hollingsworth, Humberstone, Iley-Williamson, Kennedy, Ladbrooke, Lloyd-Shogbesan, Lygo, Munkonge, Paule, Pressel, Price, Rowley, Sanders, Simmons, Sinclair, Smith, Tanner, Tarver, Taylor, Thomas, Tidball, Turner, Upton, Wade, Wilkinson, Wolff (41)

Against the recommendations and abstentions - none.

Council resolved to approve for 2018/19:

1.    The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £13,556,751 including Parish precepts and £13,336,276 excluding Parish precepts.

2.    The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £298.86 a 2.99% increase on the 2017/18 figure of £290.19. Including Parish Precepts the figure is £303.80, a 2.98% increase (see paragraphs 2 to 6).

3.    A contribution of £10,000 to Old Marston Parish Council in recognition of the additional expenditure that the Parish incurs as a consequence of maintaining the cemetery (see paragraphs 12 and 13). 

4.    The amount of £577,644 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 16).

5.    The Band D Council Taxes for the various areas of the City (excluding the Police and County Council’s precepts) as follows:

Littlemore                                                   £336.08

Old Marston                                               £329.75

Risinghurst and Sandhills                     £318.77

Blackbird Leys                                          £297.30

Unparished Area                                      £301.32

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City-wide Council Tax of £285.92.

Council resolved to note:

6.    Oxfordshire County Council’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 19 in the report.

7.    The Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley’s precept and Band D Council Tax as set out in paragraph 20 in the report, and

8.    The overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax of £1,912.27 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for the County Council and Police and Crime Commissioner).