Banbury charities to be given more help from town council grants

Following a meeting on Tuesday, the council will offer £60,000 in grants to town based groups in 2016/2017 – three times the amount given away in 2015/2016.

They also announced no increase this year in its share of the council tax bill. It will be the sixth year running that its figure has not gone up.

The council said its levy for 2016/2017 would remain at £122.12 – the same as 2010 – and without the need to cut or reduce services.

Kieron Mallon, leader of Banbury Town Council, said: “This council has proved yet again that it can be trusted with taxpayers’ money. While councils across the country are increasing their bills, we are not burdening taxpayers with extra costs.

“All services will be maintained to a high standard and some services will be improved. This is a result of good housekeeping and careful planning in previous years. The policy decisions we have taken in the past are now paying off.”

In addition £52,000, will be spent renewing the ball court at Ironstones Park in the Ruscote ward.

The town council will take over the responsibility of cutting grass verges from Oxfordshire County Council at a cost of £65,000 – a sum that will be shared by Cherwell District Council and OCC.

In addition to Banbury Town Council, council tax levies come from Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District Council, and Thames Valley Police.