The Group Finance Director (Section 151 Officer) has submitted a report to provide the necessary calculations to enable the Council to set the 2026/27 Council Tax for Oxford.

Recommendation: Council resolves to:

1.    Approve the Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £18,191,281 including Parish Precepts and £17,900,664 excluding Parish Precepts.

2.    Approve the average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £367.38, a 2.99% increase on the 2025/26 figure of £356.72. Including Parish Precepts, the figure is £373.34, a 3.00% increase, noting that this is not the figure that is used to compare to the referendum limit (as set out in paragraphs 2 to 8 of the report).

3.    Approve a contribution of £10,000 to Old Marston Parish Council in recognition of the additional expenditure that the Parish Council incurs as a consequence of maintaining the cemetery in Marston (as set out in paragraphs 11 and 12 of the report).

4.    Approve the amount of £773,943 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 15 of the report).

5.    Approve the Band D Council Tax 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 £351.50.

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

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

8.    Note the overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax is £2,678.40 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for Oxfordshire County Council).

Council resolved to:

1.       Approve the Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £18,191,281 including Parish Precepts and £17,900,664 excluding Parish Precepts.

2.       Approve the average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £367.38, a 2.99% increase on the 2025/26 figure of £356.72. Including Parish Precepts, the figure is £373.34, a 3.00% increase, noting that this is not the figure that is used to compare to the referendum limit (as set out in paragraphs 2 to 8 of the report).

3.       Approve a contribution of £10,000 to Old Marston Parish Council in recognition of the additional expenditure that the Parish Council incurs as a consequence of maintaining the cemetery in Marston (as set out in paragraphs 11 and 12 of the report).

4.       Approve the amount of £773,943 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 15 of the report).

5.       Approve the Band D Council Tax 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 £351.50.

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

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

8.       Note the overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax is £2,678.40 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for Oxfordshire County Council).

The Group Finance Director (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report to provide the necessary calculations to enable the Council to set the 2026/27 Council Tax for Oxford.

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 2026/27 Council Tax for Oxford:

Councillors

Arshad, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Corais, Diggins, Fry, Fouweather, Gant, Goddard, Harley, Henwood, Hollingsworth, Jarvis, Jupp, Lygo, Miles, Morris, Muddiman, Mundy, Munkonge, Ottino, Powell, Pressel, Qayyum, Railton, Rawle, Regisford, Robinson, Rowley, Linda Smith, Roz Smith, Smowton, Taylor, Turner, Upton, Waite, Yeatman

Against the Cabinet recommendations to Council:

Azad, Malik, Stares

Abstentions:

Rehman

With more Councillors voting for than against, the recommendations were carried.

Council resolved in accordance with the recorded vote to:

1.    Approve the Council’s precept and Council Tax requirement of £18,191,281 including Parish Precepts and £17,900,664 excluding Parish Precepts.

2.    Approve the average Band D Council Tax figure (excluding Parish Precepts) of £367.38, a 2.99% increase on the 2025/26 figure of £356.72. Including Parish Precepts, the figure is £373.34, a 3.00% increase, noting that this is not the figure that is used to compare to the referendum limit (as set out in paragraphs 2 to 8 of the report).

3.    Approve a contribution of £10,000 to Old Marston Parish Council in recognition of the additional expenditure that the Parish Council incurs as a consequence of maintaining the cemetery in Marston (as set out in paragraphs 11 and 12 of the report).

4.    Approve the amount of £773,943 to be treated as Special Expenses (see paragraph 15 of the report).

5.    Approve the Band D Council Tax 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 £351.50.

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

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

8.    Note the overall average Band D equivalent Council Tax is £2,678.40 including Parish Precepts (subject to confirmation of the Band D figures for Oxfordshire County Council).