Oxfordshire County Council has set an overall gross budget of £1,423 million for 2026/27, up from £1,366 million the previous year — part of a planned £78.4 million increase over the 2026-2031 period to address rising care packages, population growth, and complex needs. To help fund these investments, the council has proposed a 4.99% Council Tax rise for 2026/27. Paul-Austin is monitoring what these decisions mean for services in Banbury, Grimsbury and Castle — including highways maintenance, adult and children's social care, schools, and libraries — and will continue to lobby for a fair share of resources for the division.
Banbury residents will see a mixture of investment and financial challenge arising from Oxfordshire County Council's 2026/27 budget. While council tax is rising by 4.99%, the county has chosen to protect and expand funding for key frontline services including adult social care, children's services, highways maintenance and flood prevention, despite facing significant reductions in government funding over the coming years. The budget, approved in February 2026, aims to address growing demand for services while preparing for a more difficult financial future. An additional £19 million has been allocated to children's services and £14 million to adult social care. Gully clearing funding has increased by £2 million per year to £3.2 million — helping reduce surface water flooding risk across Banbury. Cllr Paul-Austin Sargent welcomed continued investment in frontline services: "Residents rightly expect to see the benefits of their council tax reflected in the services they use every day. Investment in children's services, adult social care, highways and our new Banbury Library is welcome, but it is equally important that Banbury secures its fair share of funding for drainage, road maintenance and community facilities. As the councillor for this part of Banbury I'm pushing for gully clearance in preparation for an El Niño winter. Current scheduled gully clearance in the division will come too late for a potentially record-breaking wet winter."
Investment in Services That Matter to Banbury
The largest increases in spending are being directed towards children's services and adult social care. An additional £19 million has been allocated to children's services county-wide to help meet rising demand, support vulnerable children and families, improve special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision and manage increasing transport costs. At the same time, adult social care will receive an extra £14 million to help meet the needs of an ageing population and people requiring care and support. For Banbury residents, these investments will help sustain services that many local families depend upon, while reducing some of the pressures currently being experienced across social care and education services.
A New Chapter for Banbury Library
One of the most visible benefits for Banbury is the county council's continuing commitment to library services. The budget includes investment in libraries across Oxfordshire, helping to ensure these community hubs continue to evolve and meet local needs. This comes at an important time for Banbury, following the opening of the new Banbury Library and Cultural Centre. The facility has become far more than a traditional library, offering flexible community space, access to learning opportunities, digital services, cultural activities and support for residents of all ages. As local government services increasingly focus on prevention, wellbeing and community resilience, facilities such as Banbury Library have an important role to play in connecting residents with advice, support and opportunities close to home. Continued county investment provides reassurance that the library will remain a key community asset for years to come.
Tackling Flooding and Drainage Problems
Flooding continues to be one of the most frequent concerns raised by residents across Banbury and the surrounding villages. The county council has responded by increasing funding for gully clearing by £2 million per year, taking the total annual budget to £3.2 million. The aim is to improve drainage infrastructure, clear blocked gullies more frequently and reduce the risk of surface water flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. Alongside increased maintenance, the county's wider highways and environmental budgets include provision for flood mitigation, drainage improvements and climate resilience measures. For Banbury, this should mean more proactive gully and drainage maintenance, faster identification of drainage hotspots, reduced risk of localised surface water flooding, and better resilience during increasingly frequent periods of extreme weather. While no single measure can eliminate flooding altogether, the increased investment represents a recognition that effective drainage maintenance is one of the most practical ways of protecting homes, roads and businesses.
Local Perspective
Cllr Paul-Austin Sargent, Oxfordshire County Councillor for Banbury Grimsbury and Castle, welcomed continued investment in frontline services while highlighting the importance of ensuring Banbury receives its fair share of county spending. "Residents rightly expect to see the benefits of their council tax reflected in the services they use every day. Investment in children's services, adult social care, highways and our new Banbury Library is welcome, but it is equally important that Banbury secures its fair share of funding for drainage, road maintenance and community facilities. As councillors, we will continue to press for investment that delivers visible improvements for local residents."
Looking Ahead
The 2026/27 budget offers some positive news for Banbury through investment in social care, children and families, libraries and flood prevention. However, the longer-term picture remains challenging. Oxfordshire County Council has warned that future years will require significant savings as a result of changes to government funding arrangements, with substantial budget pressures already identified from 2027/28 onwards. For now, Banbury residents can expect continued investment in essential services, a strengthened role for the town's new library, and increased attention to flooding and drainage issues that affect communities across the area. The challenge for the county council will be maintaining those improvements while navigating a much tougher financial climate in the years ahead.
