Cherwell District Council approved its 2026/27 budget on February 23, 2026, which will result in higher bills and changes to bin collections for families in Banbury, Oxfordshire. The decision follows a meeting where local leaders agreed to a 3.3 per cent increase in the council’s portion of council tax to help balance the books.
According to Cherwell District Council, the tax rise means a typical Band D home will pay about £5 more per year to the district. The council plans to save £1.785 million through efficiency measures over the next twelve months to address rising costs and financial pressure.
As part of the savings, garden waste bin collections will move from every two weeks to once every three weeks. The budget also includes funding reductions for the Banbury Museum and the Money Advice Service, though the administration stated the plan aims to protect essential services for the community.
New spending is planned for the Banbury Vision 2050 project, which focuses on regenerating the town centre and bringing empty shops back into use. The council has also set aside money to provide more temporary accommodation for people who are homeless in the area.
The budget debate highlighted a recent overspend of more than £429,000 on legal costs for planning appeals. Council Leader David Hingley described the budget as a responsible plan for the future, while opposition councillors criticised the move to reduce basic services like waste collection.
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