The Group Finance Director has submitted a report to present the outcome of the budget consultation and approve the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2027-28 to 2029-30 and 2026-27 Budget.

Recommendation: Council resolves to:

1.    Note the approval by Cabinet on 21 January 2026 and subsequently agreed by the Council on 26 January of an increase of 4.8% i.e. CPI+1% in line with the recent Government announcement referred to in paragraph 28 from 1st April 2026, giving an average weekly increase of £8.47 per week, and a revised weekly average social rent of £143.40 as set out in Appendix 5 based on a HRA budget as set out in Appendix 4;

2.    Approve the 2026-27 General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets and the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Medium Term Financial Strategy as set out in Appendices 1-9, noting:

a)    the Council’s General Fund Budget Requirement of £32.185 million for 2026/27 and an increase in the Band D Council Tax of 2.99% or £10.66 per annum representing a Band D Council Tax of £367.38 per annum; and

b)    the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme as shown in Appendix 6;

3.    Agree the fees and charges shown in Appendix 7;

4.    Confirm the Council Tax Base for 2026-27 of 48,725.2 as per paragraph 17 below and Appendices 11 and 12 attached.

Amendments submitted by opposition groups (proposers may speak for up to 10 minutes). These amendments must be received by Committee and Member Services by 1.00pm three working days (Tuesday, 17 February 2026) before the meeting. These proposals will be voted on as one amendment for each group.

Council resolved to:

1.       Note the approval by Cabinet on 21 January 2026 and subsequently agreed by the Council on 26 January of an increase of 4.8% i.e. CPI+1% in line with the recent Government announcement referred to in paragraph 28 from 1st April 2026, giving an average weekly increase of £8.47 per week, and a revised weekly average social rent of £143.40 as set out in Appendix 5 based on a HRA budget as set out in Appendix 4;

2.       Approve the 2026-27 General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets and the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Medium Term Financial Strategy as set out in Appendices 1-9 and as amended, noting:

a)       the Council’s General Fund Budget Requirement of £32.185 million for 2026/27 and an increase in the Band D Council Tax of 2.99% or £10.66 per annum representing a Band D Council Tax of £367.38 per annum; and

b)       the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme as shown in Appendix 6;

3.       Agree the fees and charges shown in Appendix 7;

4.       Confirm the Council Tax Base for 2026-27 of 48,725.2 as per paragraph 17 below and Appendices 11 and 12 attached.

Council had before it and considered:

1.           The report of the Group Director Finance to Cabinet on 11 February 2026 setting out the outcome of the budget consultation and seeking agreement of the Council’s Budget for 2026/27 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2027-28 to 2029-30.

2.           The Liberal Democrat Group’s submitted amendments published with the briefing note.

3.           The Green Group’s submitted amendments published with the briefing note.

4.           The Independent Oxford Alliance Group’s submitted amendments published with the briefing note.

5.           The Oxford Community Independents Group’s submitted amendments published with the briefing note.

6.           Two individual amendments from Councillor Dr. Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini published with the briefing note.

Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader (Statutory) and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, presented the report and proposed Cabinet’s recommendations. Councillor Turner thanked the Council officers for their work on the budget. He noted the context of Local Government Reorganisation and the uncertainty which this caused for the Council. Despite this, they were pursuing a four-year plan, demonstrating the financial robustness of the Oxford City Council. He thanked the Council’s senior leaders and officers for their work and efforts to create a good working environment. He welcomed the additional funding for homelessness mitigation from the funding settlement from central government. He outlined their commitment to addressing the housing crisis in the city and to the Oxford living wage. He said that they were proposing funding for new community wardens and the free collection of bulky waste for all Oxford residents. Councillor Turner said that they budget also proposed further verge cuttings and improvements to the investments of the gritting of cycle paths. He outlined the other proposals the budget was making to fund and improve many areas of life for the city and its residents. Noting Nigel’s upcoming retirement, Councillor Turner thanked Nigel Kennedy, the Group Finance Director, for his tireless work to lead the finances of the City Council for years and expressed that Nigel would be sorely missed.

Councillor Brown, Leader of the Council, seconded the budget proposal for Council resolution.

a)             Alternative budget proposals – The Liberal Democrat Group’s submitted amendments published with the briefing note.

Councillor Smowton presented the amendments. Councillor Smowton, seconded by Councillor Katharine Miles, moved the Liberal Democrat Group’s amendments.

Following debate, these were put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against (24), than for (7), and 12 abstentions, the Liberal Democrat Group’s amendments were not carried.

b)             Alternative budget proposals – The Green Group’s submitted amendments published with the briefing note.

Councillor Jarvis presented the amendments and noted a change to the amendments’ wording. Councillor Jarvis, seconded by Councillor Powell, moved the Green Group’s amendments.

Following debate, these were put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against (23), than for (8), and 12 abstentions, the Green Group’s amendments were not carried.

c)             Alternative budget proposals – The Independent Oxford Alliance Group’s submitted amendments published with the briefing note.

Councillors Henwood and Stares left the room at 19:34 for the discussion of this item, due to their declared interests.

Councillor Yeatman presented the amendments. Councillor Yeatman, seconded by Councillor Harley, moved the Independent Oxford Alliance Group’s amendments.

Following debate, these were put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against (27), than for (2), and 8 abstentions, the Independent Oxford Alliance Group’s amendments were not carried.

Council broke for 30 minutes after the discussion of this amendment at 19:51.

Council reconvened at 20:32.

The Lord Mayor proposed that the meeting be extended up to one hour, Councillor Brown seconded. Council passed this amendment to the standing orders.

d)             Individual amendments to the budget

1)    An individual amendment from Councillor Dr Djafari-Marbini, seconded by Councillor Malik, was moved.

Following debate, this was put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against (20), than for (8), and 15 abstentions, Councillor Dr Djafari-Marbini’s amendment was not carried.

2)    An individual amendment from Councillor Dr Djafari-Marbini, seconded by Councillor Malik, was moved.

Following debate, this was put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against (20), than for (8), and 15 abstentions, Councillor Dr Djafari-Marbini’s amendment was not carried.

3)    An individual amendment from Councillor Harley, seconded by Councillor Yeatman, was moved.

Following debate, this was put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against (20), than for (7), and 15 abstentions, Councillor Harley’s amendment was not carried.

4)    An individual amendment from Councillor Smowton, seconded by Councillor Katharine Miles, was moved.

Following debate, this was put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against (23), than for (18), and 1 abstention, Councillor Smowton’s amendment was not carried.

5)    An individual amendment from Councillor Jarvis, seconded by Councillor Powell, was moved.

Following debate, this was put to the vote.

With more Councillors voting against (27), than for (15), and with no abstentions, Councillor Jarvis’s amendment was not carried.

e)    Decision on the Cabinet Budget

Following debate, the recommendations of the Cabinet as agreed at its meeting on 11 February 2026 including the details of the budget for 2026/27 Medium Term Financial Strategy, Housing Revenue Account, Capital Programme and other matters set out in the published agenda and briefing note for this meeting were put to the vote.

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

For the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2027-28 to 2029-30 and 2026-27 Budget Housing Revenue Account, Capital Programme and other matters set out in the published agenda and briefing note:

Councillors

Arshad, Brown, Chapman, Clarkson, Corais, Diggins, Fry, Hollingsworth, Lygo, Munkonge, Ottino, Pressel, Qayyum, Railton, Rehman, Rowley, Linda Smith, Taylor, Turner, Upton, Waite

Against the Cabinet recommendations to Council:

Asad, Fouweather, Gant, Goddard, Harley, Henwood, Jupp, Malik, Miles, Roz Smith, Smowton, Stares, Yeatman

Abstentions:

Jarvis, Morris, Muddiman, Mundy, Powell, Rawle, Regisford, Robinson

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

Council resolved in accordance with the recorded vote to:

1)    Note the approval by Cabinet on 21 January 2026 and subsequently agreed by the Council on 26 January of an increase of 4.8% i.e. CPI+1% in line with the recent Government announcement referred to in paragraph 28 from 1st April 2026, giving an average weekly increase of £8.47 per week, and a revised weekly average social rent of £143.40 as set out in Appendix 5 based on a HRA budget as set out in Appendix 4;

2)    Approve the 2026-27 General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets and the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Medium Term Financial Strategy as set out in Appendices 1-9, noting:

a)    the Council’s General Fund Budget Requirement of £32.185 million for 2026/27 and an increase in the Band D Council Tax of 2.99% or £10.66 per annum representing a Band D Council Tax of £367.38 per annum; and

b)    the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme as shown in Appendix 6;

3)    Agree the fees and charges shown in Appendix 7;

4)    Confirm the Council Tax Base for 2026-27 of 48,725.2 as per paragraph 17 below and Appendices 11 and 12 attached.

Councillor Djafari-Marbini left the meeting during this item at 20:52.