The council has successfully navigated a challenging financial picture with a positive, balanced budget for 2026/27 that keeps core services relied on by residents central to its plans.
Published: Tuesday, 24th February 2026
At its meeting on Monday, 23 February, full council confirmed a net budget of £32.3 million for the coming year. A significant public consultation response helped shape Cherwell’s plans, with funding for Banbury Museum confirmed to continue into 2027/28.
The council was also successful in lobbying the government for more core funding to continue investing in and safeguarding vital services.
As in previous years, the council has had to account for the rising costs of delivering its services and the increasing demand for them. At the same time, fundamental changes to the grant funding government provides to councils are underway.
The budget includes over £1.7 million of new efficiency savings to help protect frontline services, and efforts to absorb rising costs have been helped by securing £4.4 million more from government than early forecasts indicated.
Councillor David Hingley, Leader of the Council, said: “This carefully considered budget reflects my administration’s ambitions for north Oxfordshire: it not only protects the key services that our residents depend on, but also allows us to do more for the cultural life and wellbeing of our communities.
“I am extremely grateful for everyone who took the time to respond to our budget consultation. Their views have helped shape our plans for next year and beyond. I am also pleased with our success in lobbying government and protecting a funding settlement that means we can look to next year with confidence.”
To assist with the council’s financial resilience in future years, the council has a transformation programme underway, working to find further efficiencies and make many council services easier to access online.
The budget also includes investments in new accommodation to help alleviate homelessness in the district. This will allow the council to spend less on emergency temporary accommodation, such as hotels, in the future.