Cost of Living Help Delivered by Oxford Greens

In February, Oxford City Council met to agree its budget for 2024/5. Initially, Labour planned to make significant cuts  to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme – the mechanism  through which lower income households get a reduction or exemption from their council tax. This scheme is a vital lifeline for those with the least in our city.

In advance of the budget, Green Councillors worked with other parties to protect the scheme. As a result, the households with the lowest income in Oxford will still have a  100% reduction on their council tax bill. Other residents on lower incomes will have small reductions.

Green Councillor Chris Jarvis said: “I’m incredibly proud that Green Councillors worked collaboratively with other parties to ensure that the people who need the most support in our city are still getting it. “This shows just how important  it is to have Greens on the City Council to hold Labour to
account. ”
Other Green proposals in the budget – which included a substantial hardship fund to support residents through the cost of living crisis and to stop increases in bulky waste collection charges – were blocked by the Labour administration.