Cherwell District Council has confirmed its budget for the new financial year, which includes funding for Banbury Museum but less spending on other services.

The Liberal Democrat-led council has confirmed a net budget of £32.3 million for the coming year at its meeting on Monday, February 23.

After initially looking at cutting funding to Banbury Museum, it has confirmed that, following public pressure, it will now continue supporting the museum into 2027/2028.

The council will also save over £1.7 million by making other cuts – or ‘efficiency savings’ as it puts it.

Cherwell District Council has set its budget for the coming year.

placeholder image — Cherwell District Council has set its budget for the coming year.

The savings, alongside the council’s ‘transformation programme’, will come from spending less on emergency accommodation, potential public service reductions, digitalising some services and “working more efficiently with council partners”.

The council says these savings, along with securing £4.4 million from the government, will help protect key public services and put the council in a better place going forward.

Cllr David Hingley, leader of the council, said: “This carefully considered budget reflects my administration’s ambitions for north Oxfordshire: it not only protects the key services that our residents depend on but also allows us to do more for the cultural life and wellbeing of our communities.

“I am extremely grateful for everyone who took the time to respond to our budget consultation. Their views have helped shape our plans for next year and beyond. I am also pleased with our success in lobbying government and protecting a funding settlement that means we can look to next year with confidence.”

The council has said it will invest in new accommodation to help tackle homelessness across the district and will aim to spend less on emergency temporary accommodation, such as hotels, in the future.

Speaking about the transformation programme, a council spokesperson said: “The transformation programme being developed includes a review of the council’s buildings, using digital technology to make services easier to access and working more efficiently as a council with partners.

“It will identify efficiencies, income opportunities, and potential service reductions, while also investing in new ways of working and a lower-cost operating model. It is focused on the planning, environmental services, and customer engagement areas of the council.”

Savings anticipated from the Cherwell District Council’s transformation programme were not factored into the budget for 2026/27.