Budget consultation 2024-25

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Consultation has concluded

We all need and use council services and the county council provides 80 per cent of local government services in Oxfordshire by expenditure. Just like you do at home, councillors plan where to spend money by looking to the future and reviewing needs. We have a limited budget, and with costs and demands for our services increasing, it will only go so far.


With new predicted pressures of £36 million in 2024/25, we face significant financial challenges. Following the government’s confirmation of its financial settlement for local government on 18 December, we now have a £11.2 million funding gap. This has grown from £9.1m as set out in November due to fewer grant funds being available. We have already identified £9.8 million of savings and will work to close the additional £11.2m funding gap and present a draft balanced budget in February 2024. This will be after we receive further financial information from the city and district councils.


Decision makers want to hear your views

Public engagement on our budget is an important part of the democratic process. You can share your views as follows:


Budget simulator

Take part in our 24/25 budget consultation using our online budget simulator and put yourself in the driving seat when it comes to the council’s budget.

  • Learn more about the breadth of the services we provide.
  • Weigh up tough choices and impacts.
  • Submit your budget alongside comments to support your choices.
  • Your aim is to bring our £9.1 million gap as close to zero as possible.

The figures included in the simulator are those as known when the consultation launched and before the local government settlement. This includes the initial £9.1m funding gap not £11.2m.

The simulator closes on Wednesday 10 January 2024.


If you want to comment on the council’s proposed budget, we encourage you to read the budget proposals and supporting papers before sharing your feedback using our online form. Or you can write to: Freepost OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

(No further address details are required and no stamp is needed, but please write Budget consultation 2024/25 on the top left corner of the envelope.)


What happens next

Your feedback will be included in a report going to the council’s cabinet on 30 January 2024. The budget, including the council tax level, will be decided at a meeting with all county councillors on 20 February 2024.

Report

A full report of feedback can be found on the Let's Talk, you said, we did page, as well as an executive summary.

We all need and use council services and the county council provides 80 per cent of local government services in Oxfordshire by expenditure. Just like you do at home, councillors plan where to spend money by looking to the future and reviewing needs. We have a limited budget, and with costs and demands for our services increasing, it will only go so far.


With new predicted pressures of £36 million in 2024/25, we face significant financial challenges. Following the government’s confirmation of its financial settlement for local government on 18 December, we now have a £11.2 million funding gap. This has grown from £9.1m as set out in November due to fewer grant funds being available. We have already identified £9.8 million of savings and will work to close the additional £11.2m funding gap and present a draft balanced budget in February 2024. This will be after we receive further financial information from the city and district councils.


Decision makers want to hear your views

Public engagement on our budget is an important part of the democratic process. You can share your views as follows:


Budget simulator

Take part in our 24/25 budget consultation using our online budget simulator and put yourself in the driving seat when it comes to the council’s budget.

  • Learn more about the breadth of the services we provide.
  • Weigh up tough choices and impacts.
  • Submit your budget alongside comments to support your choices.
  • Your aim is to bring our £9.1 million gap as close to zero as possible.

The figures included in the simulator are those as known when the consultation launched and before the local government settlement. This includes the initial £9.1m funding gap not £11.2m.

The simulator closes on Wednesday 10 January 2024.


If you want to comment on the council’s proposed budget, we encourage you to read the budget proposals and supporting papers before sharing your feedback using our online form. Or you can write to: Freepost OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

(No further address details are required and no stamp is needed, but please write Budget consultation 2024/25 on the top left corner of the envelope.)


What happens next

Your feedback will be included in a report going to the council’s cabinet on 30 January 2024. The budget, including the council tax level, will be decided at a meeting with all county councillors on 20 February 2024.

Report

A full report of feedback can be found on the Let's Talk, you said, we did page, as well as an executive summary.