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Views sought on how Cherwell plans to balance the books
25/11/2024
Cost savings and an increase in some fees are being proposed
Cherwell District Council is asking for our views on its proposed new budget for the next financial year, from 2024 to 2025.
The council plans to balance the books by making £1.02m of efficiency savings.
It also wants to increase some fees, including the annual garden waste charge which could go up by either £6 or £10. The council says this better reflects the cost of providing the service, while ensuring it remains in line with what neighbouring local authorities are charging.
Whilst council tax would also increase by £5 a year for a Band D property, Cherwell is working towards introducing kerbside glass collection.
A consultation on the proposals is now underway. This runs until December 23.
Councillor David Hingley, Leader of the Council, said: “We understand the financial pressures many in our communities are facing. Like them, the council is feeling the strain of inflation, but we’ve put a great deal of work into absorbing the costs by finding more effective ways of working. That means we’ve been able to protect our vital frontline services and minimise the impact on our residents.
“This is a significant achievement following years of austerity and the challenges of COVID. Thanks to our prudent and efficient management, our residents will continue to benefit from the same high-quality services we offer, and I encourage them to have their say and help us finalise what is set to be a very positive budget.”
The government is yet to make any announcements about council funding for next year. Cherwell is just one of the English councils waiting for clarity on the reset of business rates, details of the future of grants such as the New Homes Bonus scheme and a number of other local government funding issues controlled by the government.
Cllr Hingley added: “We are pleased to be consulting on a balanced budget this year, but we urge government to introduce a long-term, sustainable plan for local government funding. This would allow us to better plan for the ambitious, innovative public services our communities and residents deserve.”
The consultation can be accessed here.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam