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Housing

City Council set to agree £1.65m in grants to help prevent rough sleeping

At its next meeting on 13 March, cabinet is expected to approve a £1.65m investment to help prevent single homelessness and rough sleeping.

Almost £1m will be granted to the Oxfordshire Homelessness Alliance. The Alliance brings together most outreach, accommodation and prevention services working to prevent and reduce rough sleeping across the county. The Alliance provides 233 of the 400 beds available to people experiencing or at risk of rough sleeping in Oxford.

More than £280,000 will be granted to A2Dominion for supported accommodation provided at Matilda House; more than £100,000 will be provided for positive activities and help to get into work; and £30,000 will contribute towards a sanctuary scheme for people experiencing domestic abuse.

Call for urgent government action on spiralling temporary accommodation costs

The Council has asked Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for a critical meeting to discuss the need for urgent government support with the rapidly rising cost of temporary accommodation for homeless households.

We own 120 homes for temporary accommodation. Over recent years, by focussing on the prevention of homelessness, we have brought down the number of people in temporary accommodation in Oxford, averaging about 80 to 120 households at any one time.

But, over the past year, the number of people being made homeless has been increasing rapidly. We now have 220 households in temporary accommodation – and expect this figure to rise to 315 by July.

The scale and speed with which families are being made homeless has forced the Council to use expensive hotels as temporary accommodation.

We have carried out a range of measures over recent months to tackle the crisis, which has saved the Council about £2m. However, we’re still looking at a budget hole of up to £3m a year if we get no help.

Councils across England are warning the cost of temporary accommodation will push them into bankruptcy. That’s not going to happen in Oxford, but the situation could have a devastating impact on our services.

Communities

Plans to repair damage to South Park following fireworks display

The restoration work to South Park will involve some ground levelling and reseeding. 

This will need to take place when the conditions allow for the work to be carried out without further damage - once the ground is dry.  

It is expected that this will take place in three stages:

• the top and driest part of the park
• the middle section
• the lower, wettest, part of the park

The Council is monitoring the ground and soil condition, to assess when work can start. 

Oxford Round Table has appointed two contractors to carry out the work once the conditions are suitable. This work will be monitored by the Council.  

In the meantime, signage is in place to encourage users to take different paths to avoid the muddy, uneven areas and prevent further churning up of the ground.

In December, an inspection of the site by specialists confirmed that there has been no long-term damage sustained to the ridge and furrow archaeological features. 

Economy

Building a Fairer Oxford: join the Oxford Living Wage Movement

"Are you worried about the high cost of living in Oxford? We are too. 

"Do you want to help us make it easier for local people? You can be part of the solution by committing to paying the Oxford Living Wage to your staff.   

"In 2018, Oxford City Council launched the Oxford Living Wage, a minimum hourly wage rate based on the Living Wage Foundation’s Real Living Wage.  

"It is set at 95% of the Real Living Wage for London and was designed to provide livable earnings in Oxford, recognising the city's high cost of living. 

"We review it annually and as of April 5 2024, the rate will be £12.49 per hour for employees and contractors. 

"But it's not just about numbers—it's about building a fairer community. By committing to the Oxford Living Wage, you're ensuring that every person who is contributing to your business and to our city’s economy is more likely to be able to afford to live here and to spend money back in the local economy.   

"For employers, research shows clear benefits. 

"Not only will it mean your staff are better off and more likely to be able to live near their work, but it is also good for your business. We know it also helps with recruitment and retention of staff, a frequent challenge for local employers.  

"Treating your workers well makes them happier and more productive, which helps your business grow and makes your customers more loyal.  🌐✨

"Research from the Living Wage Foundation found that paying a living wage leads to fewer complaints and staff absences, reducing HR costs. 

"Being an official Oxford Living Wage-accredited employer also means you’ll be listed on the Council’s website, be invited to an annual event and benefit from promotion as part of our employer recognition scheme. 🎉 

"Over 130 businesses earned accreditation last year, and I'm keen to see that number grow. It isn’t hard to get involved, the accreditation doesn't cost you anything, and it's easy to do.  

"You can either write to the Council confirming your commitment or complete this short form to register your interest and we’ll contact you to gather more information. 

"Let's work together to create a fairer future for Oxford. Visit our Oxford Living Wage webpage for more information on the benefits and how to get involved.  

"Together, we can make a difference.  Join us today in our mission to make Oxford fairer and more affordable for everyone." 

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council and Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy and Partnerships 

Climate Emergency

Trial initiative for electric vehicles to be available on pay-per-use basis

Did you know that Redbridge Park & Ride is one of 14 locations across Oxfordshire that is home to an electric car club trial? 

Car clubs are short-term car rental services that give drivers access to locally parked cars, which are usually rented per hour or per day. Whether you need an alternative to a second car or just want to try out an electric vehicle with no commitment, why not give it a try? 🎉

This week, it was announced that the trial of the Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle car club, which launched in April 2023, has now been extended until the end of September 2024. 🌟

Oxford

Oxford City Council takes stand against the Anti-Boycott Bill

Our balanced Budget proposal for 2024-25 💪

Last week, Oxford City Council approved a balanced Budget for 2024-25 and Medium-Term Financial Plan until 2028. This was no easy task, given the current pressures facing us and councils around the country. 

We are pleased that our Budget, which is worth about £190m every year excluding council house rents, will continue to reflect our commitment to making Oxford a fairer, greener, and more inclusive city.

The Budget will make it possible for us to continue:

• the transformation of East Oxford Community Centre and refurbishment of our leisure centres with an investment of up to £4m
• tackling Oxford’s housing crisis by delivering 1,600 new affordable homes over the next few years and making sure existing council homes are more energy-efficient
• work to make our economy fairer for everyone including £553 million of capital investments over the five-year period and an almost £7 million investment in The Covered Market
• the rollout of another 300 Electric Vehicle chargers across the city, making EVs more accessible to more people
• our 100% Council Tax Reduction Scheme, ensuring continued support for our most vulnerable residents

In addition, final amendments to the proposed budget lay out plans for work to make Magdalen Woods safe and accessible for all, improve local allotments in Littlemore, and improve the environment at Frideswide Square, a key gateway to the city.

We have been able to set a balanced budget, despite financial uncertainties, partly because of our innovative 'Oxford Model.’ This means 56% of our income is generated internally through our wholly owned companies OX Place and ODS, commercial rents, and investments, which have given us some protection from external economic fluctuations.

However, to maintain the level of service residents expect, it was agreed that the council will continue to make efficiencies including a reduced size Cabinet, reduction to some non-statutory services, and selling some assets not on public display. We will also use money from our reserves and increase Council Tax by 2.99%.

Council tax contributions play a crucial role in funding vital frontline services, and we are committed to ensuring that every penny is used efficiently to make our city the best it can be.

Council Tax

Council Tax represents just 20% of Oxford City Council’s overall income.
It will increase by 2.99% for 2024-25, before falling back to 1.99% for the remainder of the MTFS period.

For a Band D Council Tax property, a 2.99% increase equates to £10.06 per annum (or 19p a week), bringing a total charge of £346.36 per annum (or £6.66 per week).

Separate Council Tax increases have been agreed to support Oxfordshire County Council (4.99% increase) and Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (5.07% increase).

City Council shortlisted for prestigious LGC Awards 🎉🎉

We have been shortlisted in the Council of the Year, Housing, Future Places and Environmental Services categories of the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards 2024.

The LGC Awards is one of the most prestigious events in the local government calendar. The Awards are designed to recognise, exhibit, and celebrate outstanding examples of innovation and excellence delivered by councils nationwide. 

The winners will be revealed at a ceremony in London on 12 June. 

Consultations

Corporate Strategy 2024-28 Last month we published our draft Corporate Strategy 2024-28. The draft strategy sets out our plans over the next four years across our five priorities: Good, affordable homes Strong, fair economy Thriving communities Zero carbon Oxford  A well-run council We've worked with local partners, organisations, community groups and businesses to develop the strategy, but now we want to hear your thoughts. This consultation ends on 21 March 2024.

Proposed changes to parks and open spaces byelaws in Oxford We're asking Oxford residents and park users to  give feedback on proposed changes to existing byelaws on the city's 130 parks and open spaces. 🌳🍃 The byelaws, which have not been amended for over 25 years, provide a basic set of rules to ensure people behave in ways that respect the enjoyment and safety of others.   The proposed changes include: revoking old rules relating to ball games, climbing and wild swimming 🏊‍♀️  amending byelaws to better reflect the way Oxford’s parks 🌳 are used – for example, seeking public views on removing the blanket ban on cycling to allow considerate cycling in parks making new byelaws to deal with new challenges and changing priorities that have emerged over the last 25 years, like e-scooters.  This consultation ends on 8 April 2024.

Oxford's award-winning housing support praised by parliamentary visit 🎉

Don't miss out on a free compost giveaway!

The free compost giveaway will take place in Florence Park between 10.30am and 1pm on Saturday 9 March.

Cars can be used for collection. There will be a one-way system in place: cars will enter via Florence Park Road, collect compost, and then exit via Cornwallis Road.

The event, which is being held in collaboration with Oxfordshire County Council, will also feature bike servicing and repairs, seed sowing, and stalls offering games and competitions.

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