Budget Consultation 2023/24

Budget Consultation 2023/24

Introduction

Cherwell District Council needs to set a budget for next year (2023/24) that shows how it will use the money it receives, generates or has in reserves to: provide the services and support our communities' need, and deliver the aims of our Business Plan, to create a thriving, healthy and sustainable district.

In February 2023, Cherwell will need to agree this budget, which is why we would like to hear your views on its budget proposals for 2023/24.

Background

The year 2022/23 has been a combination of national and local factors, which will create significant financial challenges for the council, and mean having to find new savings, manage budget and ease pressures, to offset the pressures in excess of £2.6 million.

We are still facing these challenges and, like all other local authorities, need to make further savings in 2023/24, to continue to manage these alongside new budget pressures, such as cost-of-living crisis and the support we can give our most vulnerable residents. With that in mind, we need to find £0.5 million of savings next year.

Added to these challenges is the government’s plans uncertainty on resetting business rates and winding down its New Homes Bonus Scheme, and the impact of COVID-19, on our income-generating streams. All could lead to a significant loss of funding for the council and, therefore, need factoring into our financial planning.

By law, the council is required to reach a balanced budget for 2023/24. We spent the summer carefully considering different options and ideas for finding the £0.5 million, to achieve this. Before making any final decisions, the council would like to hear your views on the proposals, that it has identified, to meet its current and future financial challenges.

We ask you to, please, read our Budget Consultation 2023/24 leaflet first(available on this page), as it provides much more information about the council’s finances and our approach for the 2023/24 budget setting.

The council, then, will be able to consider your views before agreeing the budget plan for next year.

Please note that we need to have your views by Friday, 23rd December 2023.

Many thanks in advance.

Yvonne Rees

Chief Executive

Cherwell District Council

Please fill in our online consultation by clicking the ‘TAKE SURVEY’ button below.

What happens after

The information gathered in this consultation will be used by the Consultation Team and the feedback from this consultation will be considered by the council’s executive team on the 6th February 2023, which will then inform the final decision by a full council meeting on 27th February 2023.

Your Data

Your personal information will only be used for the purpose mentioned in relation to this consultation. If you would like more information on the Council's privacy policy, please take a look at our website here: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/privacy-and-cookies(External link)

Accessibility

If you would like a printed copy of the questionnaire or have any questions about the standards or this consultation, please email consultations@cherwell-dc.gov.uk. The council's Customer Services Team are unable to answer any detailed questions about this survey.