The Head of Financial Services has submitted a report which sets out the necessary calculations to enable Council to set the 2024/25 Council Tax for Oxford City.

Recommendations:  That Council resolves to approve for the financial year 2024/25 recommendations 1 to 5 and to note points 6 to 8 below:

1.    The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £16,277,802 including Parish precepts and £16,014,035 excluding Parish Precepts.

2.    The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £346.36, a 2.99% increase on the 2023/24 figure of £336.30. Including Parish Precepts, the figure is £352.07, a 2.91% increase (see paragraphs 2 to 8 of the report).

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 11 and 12 of the report).

4.    The amount of £692,280 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 16 of the report).

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

Littlemore£372.56       

Old Marston                            £380.03       

Risinghurst and Sandhills        £371.41       

Blackbird Leys                         £350.78       

Unparished Area                    £349.34       

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City Wide Council Tax of £331.39.

The Council is also asked to note:

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

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

8.    The overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax of £2,441.91 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for the Oxfordshire County Council).

Council considered the report of the Head of Financial Services setting out the necessary calculations to enable Council to set the 2024/25 Council Tax for Oxford City.

Cllr Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, proposed and Cllr Brown seconded the recommendations in the report.

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

For the resolution set out below:

Councillors: Arshad, Fry, Lygo, Ataf-Khan, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Corais, Diggins, Douglas, Fouweather, Gant, Hollingsworth, Humberstone, Hunt, Jarvis, Landell Mills, Miles, Muddiman, Mundy, Munkonge, Pegg, Pressel, Railton, Rawle, Rowley, Linda Smith, Roz Smith, Smowton, Turner, Upton, Waite (32)

Against the resolution:

None (0)

Abstentions:

Councillors: Aziz, Coyne, Djafari-Marbini, Dunne, Malik, Rehman (6)

With all Councillors present voting for, the resolution was carried.

Council resolved in accordance with the reported vote to approve for the financial year 2024/25 recommendations 1 to 5 and to note points 6 to 8:

1.    The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £16,277,802 including Parish precepts and £16,014,035 excluding Parish Precepts.

2.    The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £346.36, a 2.99% increase on the 2023/24 figure of £336.30. Including Parish Precepts, the figure is £352.07, a 2.91% increase (see paragraphs 2 to 8 of the report).

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 11 and 12 of the report).

4.    The amount of £692,280 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 16 of the report).

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

Littlemore                               £372.56      

Old Marston                            £380.03      

Risinghurst and Sandhills        £371.41      

Blackbird Leys                        £350.78      

Unparished Area                     £349.34      

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City Wide Council Tax of £331.39.

The Council is also asked to note:

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

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

8.    The overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax of £2,441.91 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for the Oxfordshire County Council).

Cllr Malik left the meeting and did not return.