The Group Director Finance has submitted a report which sets out the necessary calculations to enable Council to set the 2025/26 Council Tax for Oxford City.

Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader (Statutory) and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, will present the report and propose the recommendations.

Recommendations: That Council resolves to approve for the financial year 2025/26 recommendations 1 to 5 and to note points 6 to 8 below:

1.    The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £17,266,136 including Parish precepts and £16,993,288 excluding Parish Precepts.

2.    The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £356.72, a 2.99% increase on the 2024/25 figure of £346.36. Including Parish Precepts, the figure is £362.45, a 2.95% 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 £734,560 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 15 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:

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City Wide Council Tax of £341.30.

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 £2,557.13 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for Oxfordshire County Council).

Council considered the report of the Group Director Finance setting out the necessary calculations to enable Council to set the 2025/26 Council Tax for Oxford City.

Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader (Statutory) and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, proposed and Councillor 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: Altaf-Khan, Arshad, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Corais, Coyne, Diggins, Djafari-Marbini, Fry, Fouweather, Gant, Goddard, Hollingsworth, Hunt, Jarvis, Jupp, Kerr, Lygo, Miles, Morris, Muddiman, Mundy, Munkonge, Ottino, Powell, Pressel, Qayyum, Railton, Rawle, Regisford, Robinson, Rowley, Sandelson, Linda Smith, Roz Smith, Smowton, Stares, Turner, Upton, Waite, Yeatman (42)

Against the resolution:

None (0)

Abstentions:

Councillors: Azad, Harley, Henwood, Latif, Rehman (5)

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

Council resolved in accordance with the reported vote to approve for the financial year 2025/26 recommendations 1 to 5 and to note points 6 to 8:

1.    The City Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £17,266,136 including Parish precepts and £16,993,288 excluding Parish Precepts.

2.    The average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £356.72, a 2.99% increase on the 2024/25 figure of £346.36. Including Parish Precepts, the figure is £362.45, a 2.95% 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 £734,560 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 15 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:

These figures include Parish Precepts and special expensing amounts as appropriate; in addition to the City Wide Council Tax of £341.30.

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 £2,557.13 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for Oxfordshire County Council).