Updated
Tuesday, 26th January 2021, 11:20 am
A tax rise to help pay for the costs of Covid on Oxfordshire’s public purse has been signed off by council chiefs.
But an Oxfordshire County Council leader has stressed that the authority is mindful of the ‘hard hand of Covid’ and how it has hit household budgets in its decision.
Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet, its most senior councillors, signed off a 2.99 per cent rise in council tax for the 2021/22 year when they met last week on January 19.
A tax rise to help pay for the costs of Covid on Oxfordshire’s public purse has been signed off by council chiefs
Are local elections still being held across the UK this May? Picture: Rui Vieira/PA Wire. Council chiefs across Oxfordshire have said they are preparing to hold local elections in May, as rumours grow that the Government may make moves to postpone the poll. Local elections are due to be held across the UK on May 6, 2021, including for Oxfordshire County Council. Elections which were due to take place in May 2020 that were postponed by the pandemic will also be held this year, including for Oxford City Council and Cherwell District Council. And a by-election is also due to be held for a single seat on South Oxfordshire District Council.
Oxfordshire County Hall. Picture: Lucy Ford FAMILIES in Oxfordshire could face a council tax hike of up to £100 next year to help fund extra demand for services. The average household might have to pay as much as £76 more just to help cover care services put under strain by the pandemic – and they will have to pay more on top of that. Oxfordshire County Council revealed the plan in its draft budget for the financial year starting in April. As part of this budget, the authority is planning cuts totalling £19.6m, but is also planning to invest £25m in its core services, including more support for social care.