New budget changes for 2025/26 - 2027/28

New budget increases and reductions agreed in February 2025.

New budget changes

Demography
Service Area 2025/26
£000
2026/27
£000
2027/28
£000
Total
£000
Adult Services (Population Changes) -774  -2,532  6,429  3,123 
Children's Services (Population Changes) 8,341  7,867  4,710  20,918
Environment & Highways (Waste Tonnages) 400  400 
Total Demographic Increases 7,567 5,335 11,539 24,441
Inflation, demand and other pressures
Directorate 2025/26
£000
2026/27
£000
2027/28
£000
Total
£000
Adult Services 868  3,737  10,701  15,307 
Children's Services 5,196  2,774  7,729  15,699 
Environment & Highways 971  1,247  3,654  5,872 
Economy and Place 269  -89  231  411 
Public Health & Communities 342  -12  -12  318 
Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service and Community Safety 891  778  583  2,252 
Resources and Law & Governance 1,626  493  1,615  3,734 
Transformation, Digital & Customer Experience 282  -6  99  376 
Changes to Budgets Held Centrally 7,173  2,112  1,471  10,756 
Total Inflation Increases 17,619 11,035 26,072 54,726
Investments
Directorate 2025/26
£000
2026/27
£000
2027/28
£000
Total
£000
Adult Services 120  120  240 
Children's Services 3,707  -203  63  3,567 
Environment & Highways 2,005  -328  -30  1,647 
Economy and Place 3,575  -3,140  -225  210 
Public Health & Communities 292  292 
Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service and Community Safety
Resources and Law & Governance 1,725  -925  800 
Transformation, Digital & Customer Experience 975  318  1,293 
Total Investments 12,279 -4,158 -72 8,049
New Budget Reductions
Directorate 2025/26
£000
2026/27
£000
2027/28
£000
Total
£000
Adult Services -8,075  -1,107  -120  -9,302 
Children's Services -2,889  -2,368  -167  -5,424 
Environment & Highways -3,919  -522  -4,441 
Economy and Place -70  40  -30 
Public Health & Communities -817  624  -194 
Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service and Community Safety -195  -484  -679 
Resources and Law & Governance -2,048  -1,111  -60  -3,219 
Transformation, Digital & Customer Experience -21  -68  -89 
Total Savings -18,034 -5,036 -307 -23,377

Adult Services - New budget increases and reductions

Reference Description 2025/26
£000
2026/27
£000
2027/28
£000
Total   £000
  Demography        
2026ASC1 Demand increases resulting from population growth -774 -2,532 6,429 3,123
  Total Demography -774 -2,532 6,429 3,123
  Inflation        
2026ASC4 Increases to the cost of care packages due to inflation  0 3,847 9,964 13,811
  Pay Inflation 0 -110  737 628
  Total Inflation 0 3,737 10,701 14,439
  Demand and Other Pressures        
CORP110 Impact of increase in Employer NI contribution 868 0 0 868
  Total Demand and Other Pressures 868 0 0 868
  Investments        
2026L&CO1 Revenue costs of borrowing to support the cost of additional complex needs accommodation for adults of working age (See 2026L&CO17). 0 120 120 240
  Total Investments 0 120 120 240
  New Budget Savings        
  Adult Social Care        
2026L&CO19 Savings associated with additional in-house residential accommodation for adults with complex needs (See 2026L&CO1) 0 -120 -120 -240
  Pooled Budget Contributions        
2026ASC13 Review of system contributions from the NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board to fund mental health aftercare services in line with legal responsibilities for older adults. -3,500 0 0 -3,500
2026ASC14 Review of system contributions from the NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board to fund aftercare in mental health services for people with a physical disability. -700 0 0 -700
2026ASC19 As more people receive care at home thanks to the success of Home First Discharge to Assess programme, the need for a bed-based discharge pathway is reduced and can be focussed on people with high levels of frailty and complex dementia presentations (subject to Cabinet and NHS ICB approvals). -333 0 0 -333
2026ASC21 The charge for setting up of a universal deferred payment agreement have been reviewed for the first time since 2015 and updated to cover the setting up costs of these agreements, as set out in Care Act 2014. -150 0 0 -150
2026ASC23 Reduction in the number of packages that include double handed care (the need to have two carers to help support the individual) thanks to the successful implementation of reablement programme and assistive technology solutions. -388 -112 0 -500
2026ASC24 Arrangement fees for people who fund their own care have been reviewed and brought in line with other local authorities. -20 0 0 -20
  Adult Services        
  Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -2,984 -875 0 -3,859
  Total Budget Reductions -8,075 -1,107 -120 -9,302

Children's Services - New budget increases and reductions

Reference Description 2025/26
£000
2026/27
£000
2027/28
£000
Total   £000
  Demography        
2026CS10 Demand increases resulting from population growth 0 1,140 1,510 2,650
2026CS11 Strategy savings risk (50% of historic 2025/26 savings,100% of historic 2026/27 savings) 4,700 5,000 0 9,700
2026CS15 Budget pressure resulting from re-allocating the original £1.3m demographic growth earmarked for Home to School transport to other CEF services for 2024/25 and 2025/26. 2,600     2,600
2026CS16 Update to Home to School demographic growth. This figure assumes the same annual growth of 7% (Post 16 SEN) and 9% (SEN) and factors in the volume cost impact of increasing Out of County provision. 400 700 3,200 4,300
2026CS33 Education Psychology - Demand for Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNA) is expected to increase and there is a statutory requirement to provide information from an Education Psychologist for every EHCNA agreed.  641 1,027 0 1,668
  Total Demographic Growth 8,341  7,867  4,710  20,918 
  Inflation        
  Pay inflation 0 -600 4,037 3,437
  Contract Inflation 245 780 836 1,861
  Income Inflation -34 -34 -34 -102
2026CS12 Inflation - funding for estimated inflationary increases to the cost of care. This figure is based on the National Living Wage published October 2024 and CPI+ adjustment 1,459 2,628 2,890 6,977
  Total Inflation 1,670  2,774  7,729  12,173 
  Demand and Other Pressures        
2026CS34 Reversal of prior funding agreed from Covid-19 to fund High Needs Block Pressures. This funding will now be used to support our schools to become more inclusive.  -1,200 0 0 -1,200
2026CS35 SEN Inreach Outreach - disapplication request to be submitted. This funding will be used to support schools to become more inclusive.  500 0 0 500
2026CS17 Supporting Families Government grant - confirmation has not been received from Government on whether this grant will be continued from March 2025. Continuation of funding is required for Supporting Families funded posts, Community Impact Zone and Locality Community Support Service staffing so that key services can continue to be delivered. 360 0 0 360
CORP110 Impact of increase in employers NI contribution (to be distributed across service area) 1,111     1,111
2026CS18 Remove undeliverable previously agreed savings  2,755 0 0 2,755
  Total Demand and Other Pressures 3,526  3,526 
  Investments        
2026CS19 Social Work Apprenticeships - Additional funding to align with 2025CS793 Recruitment & Retention Strategy (apprenticeships). This investment will enable us to recruit at least 25 new social work apprentices, contributing to our long-term goal of reducing reliance on temporary social work staff. 127 137 183 447
2026CS37 Investment in developing services to support under 5 years olds. This will include developing our early help and early years support so that all children can get the best possible start in life. 1,000 0 0 1,000
2026CS38 On-going funding of £2.0m added to fund an investment in Children’s Prevention - £1.4m of this is funded by the Children's Prevention Grant. This will need to be used to support new spend required to support the national roll out of Family Help but further information is awaited.    2,000     2,000
2026L&CO2 Investment to deliver on the outcomes of the Education Commission, with a particular focus on narrowing the gap for disadvantaged children, embedding best practice within a new legislative environment and providing support to partnership work. 250 -250 0 0
2026L&CO3 Extend 2025L&CO3 funding for SEND early-intervention support in Early Years and primary school settings to respond to SEND needs and proactively support the transition into mainstream education.  This will need a disapplication to DfE to obtain Secretary of State agreement to add this funding into Early Years and Primary School settings. 120 -120 0 0
2026L&CO5 Invest in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) to support parents/carers accessing SEND services (2 further FTE) 90 30 0 120
2026L&CO6 Free Breakfast Club Delivery Strategy to identifying barriers to county-wide roll out of Government scheme (seek match funding from Multi Academy Trusts) so that every child can benefit. The strategy should also consider the role for the potential in-house County School Meals service. 120 -120 0 0
2026L&CO7 Scoping work for new Youth Futures Hubs in Oxfordshire. This should use co-production methods to engage with young people alongside the deprivation work done by Public Health to develops plans for Hubs across the County aimed at meeting the needs of marginalised young people. 0 120 -120 0
  Total Investments 3,707  -203  63  3,567 
  New Budget Savings        
2026CS25 Supporting families grant. We are awaiting confirmation from Government as to whether this grant and national initiative will be continued after March 2025. If the grant is not continued, we will review the resource associated with administering and managing the grant. -120 0 0 -120
2026CS23 Introduction of a no detriment policy for Special Guardianship Orders, to increase local capacity to support children we care for -14 -202 -167 -383
2026CS24 Capital loans to foster carers to increase local capacity to support children we care for -500 0 0 -500
2026CS27 Review of sundry spend and budget rationalisation. -70 0 0 -70
2026CS30 Review of alternative delivery mechanisms for Outdoor Therapy services. -273 0 0 -273
  Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -1,912 -2,166 0 -4,078
  Total Budget Reductions -2,889  -2,368  -167  -5,424 

 

Environment and Highways - New budget increases and reductions

Ref Description 2025/26
£000
2026/27
£000
2027/28
£000
Total   £000
  Demography        
2026EH10 Demand increases resulting from population growth relating to waste tonnes being disposed of, ranging from 2.9% to 3.2% per annum 0 0 400 400
2026EH11 Increase in street lighting and lit signs as a result of asset growth 145 145 0 290
2026EH19 Increase in highway assets as a result of the maintainable network growing 300 270 250 820
2026EH20 Increase in the number of traffic signals that need to be maintained as a result of asset growth. 120 120 0 240
2026EH28 Commuted Sums draw down to fund highways maintenance and network Management growth  -565  -535 -250 -1,350
  Total Demography  0  0 400 400
  Inflation        
  Pay inflation -83  556  473
  Contract Inflation 0 2,517  2,910  5,427
  Income Inflation -271  -437  -437  -1,145
  Total Inflation -271  1,997 3,029 4,755
  Demand and Other Pressures        
2026EH12 New carbon tax applied to fossil fuel carbon generated from waste incinerated from April 2028. Need for pre-implementation activity in the run up to the scheme starting in April 2026. 0 200 0 200
2026EH14 The Waste contract was extended until October 2027, as such expected associated costs with new contract can be delayed.   so this budget increase can be pushed back to 2027/28. -625 0 625 0
2026EH15 Dean Pit leachate management and Dix Landfill long term management and Landfill Tax increased   by 21% from April 2025 217 50 0 267
2026EH21 Income from moving traffic offences less than assumed within previous year budget assumptions.  200 0 0 200
2026EH22 Additional maintenance & management costs associated with increasing number of Park and Rides. 75 75 0 150
2026EH23 Delay in achieving Department of Transport approval of Lane Rental Scheme. Further work required and as such part year impact only (6months) anticipated.    1,075 -1,075 0 0
CORP110 Impact of increase in employers NI contribution (to be distributed across service area) 300 0 0 300
  Total Demand and Other Pressures 1,242  -750  625  1,117 
  Investments        
2026EH39 Move to an annual highway drainage gully emptying & jetting cycle 1,500 0 0 1,500
2026EH40 investment of £0.4m required to support holding the price of a joint ticket (parking and bus fare) at Park & Ride car parks unchanged from 2024/25. 400 -400   0
2026L&CO9 Increased enforcement of streetworks (2 Officers and 1 Senior Officer) 65 65   130
2026L&CO11 Development of Kerbside Strategy (including lobbying Government for powers to tackle pavement parking) 40 -40   0
2026L&CO12 Phase five of School Streets scheme (revenue cost of implementation/maintenance - see Section 5.3 for capital funding for five further school streets)   47 -30 17
  Total Investments 2,005 -328 -30 1,647
  New Budget Reductions        
2026EH25 Increased booking of staff time to council projects and schemes. -100 0 0 -100
2026EH26 Reduction in streetlighting energy usage as a result of LED lamp replacement investment (previously a pressure under Ref 24EP1) -1,500 0 0 -1,500
2026EH30 Drawdown from commuted sums to support previous year's growth in highway maintenance services -500 0 0 -500
2026L&CO21 Receipts from increased enforcement of streetworks achieved through investment in increased enforcement of streetworks (2 Officers and 1 Senior Officer). See 2026L&CO9 -114 -114   -228
2026L&CO22 Introduce long stay parking charge(s) at Thornhill Park & Ride in 2026/27 for those connecting to coach-services for Heathrow and Gatwick   -10   -10
  Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -1,705 -398 0 -2,103
  Total Budget Reductions -3,919  -522  -4,441 

Economy and Place - New budget increases and reductions

Ref Description 2025/26
£000
2026/27
£000
2027/28
£000
Total   £000
  Inflation        
  Pay inflation 0 -35 235 200
  Income Inflation 0 -4 -4 -8
  Total Inflation 0  -39  -231 192
  Demand and Other Pressures        
2026EP5 Pressure in energy and retrofit staffing budget owing to gap between grant funding 50 -50 0 0
CORP110 Impact of increase in employers NI contribution  219 0 0 219
  Total Demand and Other Pressures 269  -50  219 
  Investments        
2026EP1 Additional temporary resource to support the development of four nationally significant infrastructure projects over the next two financial years. 75 0 -75 0
2026L&CO8 Resourcing to support the recommendations of the Citizens Assembly on transport 50   -50 0
2026L&CO10 Full Business Case development for Greenways cross-country cycle routes connecting rural villages and market towns to/from Oxford 100   -100 0
2026L&CO13 One - off piece of work for evidence gathering and design work for developing further area based HGV enforcement  140 -140   0
2026EP2 Invest in carbon sequestration to move the council's operational emissions towards a negative net total (i.e. beyond 'net zero') 80 0 0 80
2026EP4 Carbon Management Plan - forward purchase of Carbon offsets to reduce impact of future offsetting costs. 30 0 0 30
2026EP10 Investment in pro-active flooding measures and working with communities who have suffered flooding (one - off) 2,000 -2,000 0 0
2026EP11 An ongoing investment of £0.1m is proposed for an additional two flood officers to recruit, train and support Flood Wardens or equivalent those places that have s19 reports associated, and to work with Emergency Planning  and local resilience bodies to encourage relevant Parish and Town Councils or equivalent to complete emergency plans 100 0 0 100
2026EP12 £1m one – off investment is proposed to leverage investment in rail, including supporting active travel access, improvement programmes and the development of strategic cases and masterplans to prove the environmental, economic and community case for rail. 1,000 -1,000 0 0
  Total Investments 3,575  -3,140  -225  210 
  New Budget Reductions        
2026EP9 Strategic Planning Increasing S106 income target to reflect higher income in recent years -30 0 0 -30
2026EP7 Temporary reduction in revenue works budget in central Oxfordshire team while activity is focussed on alternatively funded core schemes. -40 0 40 0
  Total Budget Reductions -70 0 40 -30

Public Health & Communities - New budget reductions

Budget reductions
Ref Description 2025/26   £000 2026/27   £000 2027/28   £000 Total   £000  
  Inflation          
  Income inflation -12 -12 -12 -36  
  Total Inflation -12 -12 -12 -36  
  Demand and Other Pressures          
2026PH9 Home Library Service - This is a provision designed for vulnerable adults who may have difficulty visiting a physical library.  Through a large team of volunteers, the service will visit vulnerable residents at their homes to deliver books and audio visual items.   The funding will help to sustain and develop this service to meet the recent increase in demand. 80 0 0 80  
2026PH10 Early Years Library - This service is designed to help early childhood education and supports cognitive and social-emotional development of children at key stages.  They include effective, yet low budget activities, such as Bookstart, rhyme-times, stay and play sessions, and a wide range of books and other resources to help with child development and literacy. This funding will support this work and help meet growing demand, through purchasing various reading materials. 80 0 0 80  
CORP110 Impact of increase in employers NI contribution (to be distributed across service area) 194 0 0 194  
  Total Demand and Other Pressures 354 0 0 354  
  Investments          
2026PH11 A further £0.3m added to the budget for Domestic Abuse to reflect the increase in the Domestic Abuse Duty Safe Accommodation Grant 292     292  
  Total Investments 292 0 0 292  
  New Budget Reductions          
2026PH1 Utilisation of government grant to fund domestic abuse services means £0.200m of council funding can be released on a one - off basis in 2025/26. Funding reinstated in 2026/27. -200 200 0 0  
2026PH6 Utilisation of Public Health Grant to support Family Solutions Plus -250 250 0 0  
2026PH7 Utilisation of Public Health Grant to help fund Community Capacity Grants -250 250 0 0  
2026PH8 Savings for ASC through reduced charges for social care assessments -72 72 0 0  
  Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -45 -148 0 -194  
  Total Budget Reductions -817 624 0 -194  

Fire & Rescue and Community Safety - New budget increases and reductions

Ref Description 2025/26   £000 2026/27   £000 2027/28   £000 Total   £000
  Inflation        
  Pay inflation 419 421 421 1,261
  Income Inflation -3 -3 -3 -9
2026FRCS1 Contract Inflation 155 160 165 480
  Total Inflation 571 578 583 1,732
  Demand and Other Pressures        
2026FRCS2 Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (Operational Radios) 0 200 0 200
2026FRCS3 Emergency Response Resilience Contract 150 0 0 150
2026FRCS4 Fire pensions that have been rolled into the Revenue Support Grant.  62 0 0 62
CORP110 Impact of increase in employers NI contribution (to be distributed across service area) 108 0 0 108
  Total Demand and other pressures 320 200  520 
  Budget Reductions        
2026FRCS10 Implementation of interim measures to improve fire engine availability and response times. Reprioritising fire cover by geographical area (rather than total numbers) will reduce the need for additional hours payments. -30 0 0 -30
  Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -165 -484 0 -649
  Total Budget Reductions -195 -484 0 -679

Resources, Law and Governance - New budget increases and reductions

Ref Description 2025/26   £000 2026/27   £000 2027/28   £000 Total   £000
  Inflation        
  Pay inflation 0 -130 872 743
  Income Inflation -54 0 0 -54
  Total Inflation -54  -130  872  689
  Demand and Other Pressures        
2026RLGHR1 / 2026RLGHR2 HR & Cultural Change - Contract Inflation 10 10 10 30
2026RLGFC1 Financial & Commercial Services - Contract Inflation  10 155 160 325
2026RLGFC3 Removal of an income budget no longer achievable as it related to a one off exercise for investigating and recovering historic duplicate payments and credit balances on vendor accounts that concluded in 2024/25. 300 0 0 300
Multiple Contract/Business Rates Inflation: Reduction in previously agreed inflation increase for Business Rates. -140 388 403 651
2026RLGFM4 Increase in volume of Digital Post and County Print cost increases 50 0 0 50
2026RLGFM7a Delay in the occupation of a new library facility in Banbury to 2025/26. £150k saving from 2024/25 falls out in 2025/26 and 2026/27. Will be subject to a new Business Case and revised budget requirement submission. -75 -75 0 -150
2026PA06 Extended Rights to Free Travel that have been rolled into the Revenue Support Grant.  48     48
2026RLGL1 Legal & Coroners - Contract Inflation 70 75 80 225
2026RLGG1 Governance - Additional May 2025 election costs (mail & ID checks) 55 0 0 55
2026RLGL2 Legal - Removal of Vacancy factor as roles in the legal service are immediately filled  200 0 0 200
2026RLGL3 Legal - Case Management System Cloud licence 30 0 0 30
2026RLGIT1 IT - Contract Inflation 0 70 90 160
2026RLGIT2 IT corporate savings target 2023/24 not achieved.  200 0 0 200
CORP110 Impact of increase in employers NI contribution (to be distributed across service area) 921 0 0 921
  Total Demand and other pressures 1,680  623  743  3,046 
  Investments        
2026RLGFC2 This investment is to increase the capacity in the Procurement Service by 8 - 10 permanent staff to enhance contract management capability in accordance with the Councils Commercial Strategy.  This capacity is required to support the cross-cutting savings plan from contract and third party spend CORPRES102  750 0 0 750
2026PAPP05 Continuation of the Councillor Priority Fund for 2025/26 and 2026/27. The fund enables councillors to support local projects in their communities.  775 -775 0 0
2026L&CO16 Publicise the findings of the Citizens Assembly on the future of transport and undertake a follow-up public engagement exercise. 50 -50 0 0
2026RLGFM8 The discretionary rent concessions currently provided to tenants in the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) are scheduled to end in March 2025. Plans are in place to extend this support for an additional year. 100 -100 0 0
2026L&CO14 Transform libraries into Community Hubs (cost would be met additional income generation - see 2026L&CO24) 50 0 0 50
  Total Investments 1,725 -925 0 800
  New Budget Reductions        
  HR & Cultural Change: Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -24 -68   -92
  Financial & Commercial Services: Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -121 -117   -238
2026RLGFM6 Facilities Management - Review of Health & Safety Team: Currently, health and safety responsibilities are spread across various departments within the council. By centralizing these efforts, we stand to achieve financial savings and enhance service quality through improved collaboration and resource sharing. -75 0 0 -75
2026RLGEST7 Estates - Abbey House rent & service charge: The county council had been utilizing Abbey House in Abingdon for office purposes. It had longstanding intentions to vacate, which were successfully realized ahead of schedule in the summer of 2024, resulting in the cost saving 2025/26. -620 0 0 -620
2026RLGEST8 Estates - Utility saving - Estate rationalisation: Including saving in connection to the Abbey House closure. -50 0 0 -50
2026RLGEST9 Estates - Strategic asset cost control (No External consultants) -50 0 0 -50
2026RLGFM7b Facilities Management - In-house delivery solution: At present, we engage an external service for roof repairs on council properties. Analysis shows that by directly hiring specialized staff members to handle these repairs internally, we can achieve cost savings. -125 0 0 -125
2026RLGBS2 Business Support - Review of current expenditure and minor adjustment to working patterns - A variety of small savings. -40 0 0 -40
2026L&CO24 Community Hub Library savings (income from rental of space etc) generated as a result of 2026L&CO14 -50 0 0 -50
  Property & Assets: Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -467 -549   -1,016
  Public Affairs, Policy & Partnership: Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -50 -39   -89
2026RLGR1 Registration Income Inflation - see Inflation section -7 -60 -60 -127
  Law & Governance: Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -75 -155   -230
2026RLGIT7 IT - Review and consolidation of multiple current contracts to achieve potential saving. -200 0 0 -200
  Corporate Services: Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -94 -122   -216
  Total New Budget Reductions -2,048  -1,111  -60  -3,219 

Transformation, Digital & Customer Experience - New budget increases and reductions

Ref Description 2025/26   £000 2026/27   £000 2027/28   £000 Total   £000
  Inflation        
  Pay inflation 0 -14 91 78
  Income Inflation -2 -2 -2 -6
2026TDCE3 Contract Inflation 10 10 10 30
  Total Inflation 8 6 99 102
  Demand and Other Pressures        
2026TDCE4 Remove 2023/24 Corporate Helpdesk Consolidation savings 150 0 0 150
CORP110 Impact of increase in employers NI contribution (to be distributed across service area) 124 0 0 124
  Total Demand and other pressures 274 274 
  Investments        
2026TDCE6 Investment in Revised Data Team Structure  795 298 0 1,093
2026TDCE9 Enterprise Shared Management Tool to facility consistency approach and methodology (Corporate roll-out & implementation) 100 0 0 100
2026TDCE1 Funding for additional Project Manager 50 0 0 50
2026TDCE2 Programme Management Office - Cohort 2 In-house training provision funding  30 20 0 50
  Total Investments 975 318 0 1,293
  Budget Reductions        
  Cross cutting savings (to be distributed across service area) -21 -68 0 -89
  Total Budget Reductions -21 -68 0 -89