Cherwell’s Executive is set to consider updated budget proposals featuring extra funding for Banbury Museum and new development funds.
Published: Wednesday, 28th January 2026
These will benefit residents across north Oxfordshire, following a strong and thoughtful response from residents to the council’s budget consultation as well as confirmation of government funding.
Successful lobbying by the council and local government organisations nationwide has resulted in a better-than-forecast funding announcement from central government, meaning Cherwell District Council can revisit some of its savings proposals for 2027/28.
The council had raised serious concerns with government over the impact of changes to grant funding and business rates. Recent central government announcements about future funding mean Cherwell can now update its budget proposals for 2026/27 with additional investment in key services and new funds allocated to deliver strategic and local projects to benefit residents across the district.
Councillor David Hingley, Leader of the Council, said: “Beyond protecting and maintaining our core services, we are ambitious about supporting the wellbeing and cultural life of our communities. We said from the start that we would listen carefully to residents, and I want to thank the very many people who took the time to respond to our consultation. We are therefore reviewing our approach to funding for Banbury Museum in 2027/28, recognising how passionately residents feel about the Museum’s special role in the community. The Executive will now consider options that address the feedback we have received.
“In terms of our core funding, it is pleasing that the government has listened to our arguments and provided a better-than-forecast funding settlement, which means we can now report a better medium-term funding outlook than we had initially anticipated. As a result, we can look confidently at balancing the books across future years and at investing in the frontline services our residents rely on, as well as funding key development strategies to deliver lasting, positive change across the district.”
Responses to the council’s budget consultation reflected broad support for the majority of measures proposed, including efficiency savings and back-office improvements, and investment in temporary accommodation to tackle homelessness and reduce expenditure on emergency hotel placements in the long term.
Work is ongoing to finalise the council’s responses to proposals that received mixed feedback. This includes the proposed shift to three-weekly green bin collections in 2027/28, which will be subject to further consultation to allow fuller consideration of public views before any decision is made.
Work will also continue to shape the level and form of future funding support for Banbury Museum, ensuring the council responds to the concerns raised during the consultation.
The updated proposals will be presented to the Executive committee on Tuesday, 3 February, with the committee’s recommendations going to council for a final decision on Monday, 23 February.