They’ve been announced as part of Oxford City Council’s first draft of its 2025/26 Budget.
A proposal to fund more than 1,500 ‘genuinely affordable’ new homes have been announced as part of Oxford City Council’s first draft of its 2025/26 Budget.
The city council plan to fund the construction of 1,275 new council homes over the next eight years and buy 283 more, which would increase its council housing stock to almost 9,500.
Other proposals include putting £22 million towards improving the energy efficiency of existing council houses over the next five years, increase litter picking and to fund verge cutting at least three times a year after the county council reduced their verge cutting to once a year.
Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management, said that this Budget was about “getting the basics right”.
He said: “We are acutely aware that Oxford residents are struggling financially, and the main cause of this is the high cost of housing.
“Our Budget proposals aim to respond to this, with 1,600 new council homes over the next eight years to help provide genuinely affordable housing for Oxford residents.
“But this Budget is also about getting the basics right. That’s why we are increasing litter picking and grass cutting across Oxford.
“We are proposing to build two new community centres, a new splash park in Hinksey and to improve the energy efficiency of our council homes.”
He also emphasised the high cost of providing temporary accommodation for homeless families, which creates a financial pressure of £1.846 million per year.
Other financial pressures include the cost of IT software and infrastructure, and planned repairs and maintenance.
Mr Turner praised the ‘Oxford Model’, where the council converted some of its services into businesses, including OX Place and Oxford Direct Services, to generate income for the council.
Both companies are expected to raise £19 million for the council over the next four years.
The city council are proposing to increase council tax by 2.99 per cent, which is the maximum amount district councils can increase it by.
Some fees and charges will also increase, including replacement bins, garden waste bins, bulky waste collection, pest control, garages and taxi licenses.
Although the city council will not increase parking-only park and ride tariffs, city centre parking will be increased by 30p per hour.
The Budget proposals will be discussed at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, December 11.
A public consultation will open on Thursday, December 12 and conclude on Friday, January 31 and the Budget will be approved on Thursday, February 13.