Cherwell residents will pay not a penny extra for District Council services over the next year after the Council announced its eighth consecutive tax freeze.
This 0% increase means Cherwell's share of residents’ total tax bill remains at £123.50 per annum for band D properties – a figure first set in 2009. Weighed against the effect of inflation, this represents another real terms price cut.
Councillor Ken Atack, Cherwell District Council’s lead member for Finance, said: “With the decision to freeze its share of the council tax yet again, Cherwell is showing that it is determined to deliver the high-quality services our residents need without forcing them to pay more. The Council is on solid financial ground and we will continue to be responsible with taxpayer’s money.”
On the announcement, Leader of Cherwell District Council Barry Wood said: “I am proud that this is the 8th consecutive Council Tax freeze from Cherwell. We are a thriving local Council. Thanks to Council-backing we have a prosperous and diverse local economy and that, coupled with the efforts of the Council's Job Club, has resulted in unemployment across the District at less than 1%. We also have a nationally recognised High Street in Banbury and one of the Country's first healthy towns in Bicester. And thanks to programmes like Build! and Graven Hill, we are one of the UK's leading authorities for housing delivery.”
Despite the 0% change in Council Tax, the District Council still have ambitious plans ahead. Pledges include a fast response time when dealing with flytipping, the completion of the pavilion at the Whitelands Farm Sports Ground, and the improvement of the lives of the most vulnerable through the Brighter Futures initiative. The Council has also reiterated its ongoing commitment to retaining the widest level of acute service provision at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.