Annual Report 2023-2024

Every year, we look to serve you better

This includes emptying your bins, managing your planning applications, handling housing benefit requests, keeping your communities clean and tidy, and delivering crucial day-to-day services. 

This report highlights some notable accomplishments from the past year that are on top of our regular work. 

We assess progress based on our four key business plan priorities, measured through 27 performance goals.

In 2023-2024, all but one of the 27 Business Plan measures achieved their year-end target or reported within tolerance.

The measure that missed its target for the year was "Net Additional Housing Completions to meet Cherwell Needs", reporting a final figure of 792, which is 70% of the set target for the year; this result has been heavily affected by the national context, circumstances such as inflation, high building costs, and high interest rates resulting in lower than expected completions. 

Housing that meets your needs

Below are some of the past year's achievements for this strategic priority:

• Prevented 215 households from becoming homeless.
• Secured over £400,000 funding to support low-income residents with housing needs. Current tenants were involved in shaping a new charter and services provided by the landlord. 
• Our Cherwell Bond Scheme assisted landlords in improving homes for tenant properties with grants, tenant support, property viewings, and a deposit bond equivalent to 10 weeks of rent. 
• Launched a new strategy to address homelessness and rough sleeping in our district for the next five years. 
• Delivered 266 affordable homes, 38% more than last year.
• Improved 138 homes through enforcement to ensure homeowners and landlords provide safe places for people to live. 
• Processed new housing benefit claims in 16 days, two days quicker than our target average for the year.

Supporting environmental sustainability

Below are some of the past year's achievements for this strategic priority.

• Achieved our objective to reach 15% of electric vehicles in our fleet by the end of 2023-2024.
• Our crews emptied 8.5 million containers, collecting a total of 60,652 tonnes of waste, 4% more than last year, whilst consuming 2% less fuel.
• Recycled 53% of waste collected, 10% more than England's average.
• Secured government funding to increase tree-cover in the district by creating a tiny forest at Longford Park and a community orchard at Burnehyll Community Woodland. 
• Our new coffee pod recycling scheme recycled 1,048,397 pods (16.4 tonnes).
• Proposed a new Climate Action Plan for Cherwell to achieve carbon net zero by 2030 and support the district's carbon reduction goals.

An enterprising economy with strong and vibrant local centres

Below are some of the past year's achievements for this strategic priority:

• Our Banbury Vision 2050 survey to shape the future of Banbury town centre, registered an unprecedented 2,729 responses from our residents, business owners and visitors. 
• Plans launched to revitalise Bicester Market Square with £4.25m funding from the council's capital budget and a government grant for infrastructure. 
• Over 750 district businesses took part in the survey. 37% reported improved performance in the past year, with the same percentage expecting this trend to continue in 2024. 
• The Business Needs Survey results will guide projects for the 2024/25 UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund, emphasising business support, decarbonisation, and green skills training. 
• Launched a consultation to seek residents feedback on our Local Plan Review 2040 first draft. 

Healthy, resilient, and engaged communities

Some of the past year's achievements for this strategic priority:

• Our Move Together programme benefited over 1,800 participants improving their physical and mental health. 
• Donated £ 10,600 to Alexandra House of Joy, to help the facility to keep offering support for adults with severe learning disabilities.
• Assisted residents by upgrading the least energy-efficient homes to alleviate cost-of-living pressures, combat fuel poverty, and lower energy expenses. 
• Attracted 4,180 residents to our You Move programme to enjoy free and reduced-price physical activities. 
• Developed Everyone's Wellbeing Strategy for a healthier and happier Cherwell 2024-2028.
• Implemented Cost-of-Living Action plan with grant schemes for food groups, expanded Warm spaces network, updated "Who can Help?" booklet, and distributed it through partner organisations. 
• Encouraged 3,187 children to become more active through our Youth Activators program. 
• Welcomed 1,395,640 visitors to our leisure centres, 3% more than that forecasted for the year.