# Where your council tax goes in Vale of White Horse url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/vale-of-white-horse/where-it-goes/ updated: 29 September 2026 licence: Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Figures: each source's own licence, listed under Sources. publisher: [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk) # Where your council tax goes in Vale of White Horse Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Vale of White Horse** is **£2,577.44** for 2026-27, split between Vale of White Horse £166.69, Oxfordshire County Council £1,968.55, Oxfordshire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase £38.23, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £298.28, Parish and town councils (average for the area) £105.69. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Oxfordshire County Council: **£752.32** of the bill. Council tax pays for 17% of the council's own spending; the rest is government grant, business rates and fees. Figures for the 2026–27 financial year. Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics). ## Key figures - £2,577.44Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £166.69Goes to Vale of White Horse itself (6%) As of 6 April 2026 - £752.32Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 16.5%Of the council's money that comes from council tax, 2025-26 As of 28 September 2026 Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics). ## Who gets your bill Your council tax band A B C D E F G H Figures are for a **Band D** home. Bands A to H pay a fixed fraction of this, set in law. 166.69 1968.55 38.23 298.28 105.69 Vale of White Horse 6%Oxfordshire County Council 76%Oxfordshire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase 1%Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 12%Parish and town councils (average for the area) 4% Parish precepts differ from parish to parish; this is the average across the area, and a home outside any parish pays none. ## And where does that bit go? Choose any part of the bill to see how it divides, then keep going as far as the published returns allow. Every level has its own link you can share. ### Where the rest comes from **Council tax pays for 16.5%** of the money Vale of White Horse had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 16.5% £9.6m - Business rates 8.9% £5.1m - General government grant 0.3% £147k - Government grants for specific services 37.4% £21.7m - Fees, charges and other income 37.0% £21.4m It also put £3.9m into its reserves that year. **Council tax pays for 30.2%** of the money Oxfordshire County Council had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 30.2% £533.3m - Business rates 5.9% £104.1m - General government grant 0.1% £2.5m - Government grants for specific services 30.5% £538.1m - Fees, charges and other income 33.3% £586.8m It also put £22.7m into its reserves that year. Council tax is pooled with the council's other money, not ring-fenced for any service. The split on this page shares your bill out in proportion to what each body spends; it does not say what any one pound paid for. - Your bill ### Your bill: £2,577.44 - [Vale of White Horse](#d-council) £166.69 ** Your council · 6.5% of the bill - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) £1,968.55 ** County council · 76.4% of the bill - [Oxfordshire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) £38.23 ** County adult social care precept · 1.5% of the bill - [Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £298.28 ** Police · 11.6% of the bill - Parish and town councils (average for the area) £105.69 ** Parish or town council · 4.1% of the bill. Parish, town and community councils do not file spending returns with the government, so there is no national breakdown. Each publishes its own annual accounts. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Vale of White Horse ### Vale of White Horse £166.69 of your bill goes to Vale of White Horse. It is shared out below in proportion to how Vale of White Horse spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £67.40 ** 40.4% of this part · £9.8m in 2025-26 · £64 per resident; similar councils £46 · up 28.8% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £38.63 ** 23.2% of this part · £5.6m in 2025-26 · £37 per resident; similar councils £44 · down 49.7% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £30.90 ** 18.5% of this part · £4.5m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £24 · up 49.4% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £23.51 ** 14.1% of this part · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £24 · up 86.3% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £5.54 ** 3.3% of this part · £804k in 2025-26 · £5.28 per resident; similar councils £21 · down 9.4% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £0.71 ** 0.4% of this part · £103k in 2025-26 · £0.68 per resident; similar councils £-16 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 district councils in England closest in population: Guildford, Horsham, St Albans, South Norfolk, Cambridge, Stratford-on-Avon, Breckland, South Kesteven, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, East Lindsey. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Vale of White Horse](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £67.40 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Vale of White Horse. Here is how its £9.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Recycling and waste minimisation £25.23 ** 37.4% of this · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £2.03 · up 9.4% on 2024-25 - Street cleaning £15.77 ** 23.4% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £9.97 · up 23.4% on 2024-25 - Waste collection £11.73 ** 17.4% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 21.4% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £10.97 ** 16.3% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £9.91 · up 110.6% on 2024-25 - Public toilets £1.69 ** 2.5% of this · £245k in 2025-26 · £1.61 per resident; similar councils £1.40 · up 94.4% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £1.12 ** 1.7% of this · £163k in 2025-26 · £1.07 per resident; similar councils £0.69 · up 103.8% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £0.89 ** 1.3% of this · £129k in 2025-26 · £0.85 per resident; similar councils £3.63 · up 303.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Vale of White Horse](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £38.63 of your bill goes to running the council at Vale of White Horse. Here is how its £5.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £15.32 ** 39.7% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £21 · up 14.4% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £8.66 ** 22.4% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £8.26 per resident; similar councils £7.55 · up 73.9% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £6.16 ** 16.0% of this · £894k in 2025-26 · £5.87 per resident; similar councils £4.12 · down 0.4% on 2024-25 - Other central services £3.39 ** 8.8% of this · £492k in 2025-26 · £3.23 per resident; similar councils £0.49 · down 93.2% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £3.13 ** 8.1% of this · £454k in 2025-26 · £2.98 per resident; similar councils £2.93 · up 59.3% on 2024-25 - Local welfare assistance £1.81 ** 4.7% of this · £262k in 2025-26 · £1.72 per resident; similar councils £0.00 - Emergency planning £0.16 ** 0.4% of this · £23k in 2025-26 · £0.15 per resident; similar councils £0.50 · down 25.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Vale of White Horse](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £30.90 of your bill goes to planning and development at Vale of White Horse. Here is how its £4.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Planning policy £12.49 ** 40.4% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £4.80 · up 74.0% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £9.10 ** 29.4% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £8.67 per resident; similar councils £1.96 · up 53.0% on 2024-25 - Economic development and business support £5.07 ** 16.4% of this · £735k in 2025-26 · £4.83 per resident; similar councils £4.36 · up 5.2% on 2024-25 - Community development £2.35 ** 7.6% of this · £341k in 2025-26 · £2.24 per resident; similar councils £0.62 · up 29.2% on 2024-25 - Building control £1.89 ** 6.1% of this · £274k in 2025-26 · £1.80 per resident; similar councils £1.84 · up 106.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Vale of White Horse](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £23.51 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Vale of White Horse. Here is how its £3.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £9.38 ** 39.9% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £9.45 per resident; similar councils £4.39 · up 75.5% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £7.39 ** 31.4% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £7.45 per resident; similar councils £5.84 · up 72.3% on 2024-25 - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £4.82 ** 20.5% of this · £739k in 2025-26 · £4.85 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 54.9% on 2024-25 - Private sector housing renewal £1.92 ** 8.2% of this · £294k in 2025-26 · £1.93 per resident; similar councils £0.34 · up 53.9% on 2024-25 **Council homes are not in this.** Council housing is paid for through the Housing Revenue Account, from tenants' rents, and the law keeps it separate from the General Fund that council tax goes into. Vale of White Horse reported no Housing Revenue Account for 2025-26: it has no council homes of its own, or they were transferred to a housing association. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Vale of White Horse](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £5.54 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Vale of White Horse. Here is how its £804k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £3.56 ** 64.2% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £9.69 per resident; similar councils £7.77 · up 48.2% on 2024-25 - Community centres and public halls £1.89 ** 34.2% of this · £785k in 2025-26 · £5.16 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 66.0% on 2024-25 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £0.09 ** 1.7% of this · £38k in 2025-26 · £0.25 per resident; similar councils £3.14 · up 111.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Vale of White Horse](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £0.71 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Vale of White Horse. Here is how its £103k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Parking £0.60 ** 84.5% of this · £87k in 2025-26 · £0.57 per resident; similar councils £-17 - Traffic management and road safety £0.11 ** 15.5% of this · £16k in 2025-26 · £0.11 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 77.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Oxfordshire County Council ### Oxfordshire County Council £1,968.55 of your bill goes to Oxfordshire County Council. It is shared out below in proportion to how Oxfordshire County Council spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) £752.32 ** 38.2% of this part · £316.2m in 2025-26 · £411 per resident; similar councils £407 · up 12.3% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-county~childrens-social-care) £436.07 ** 22.2% of this part · £183.3m in 2025-26 · £238 per resident; similar councils £244 · up 10.7% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-county~education) £373.25 ** 19.0% of this part · £504.6m in 2025-26 · £656 per resident; similar councils £677 · up 15.7% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-county~highways-transport) £136.55 ** 6.9% of this part · £57.4m in 2025-26 · £75 per resident; similar councils £65 · up 13.6% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-county~environment) £86.65 ** 4.4% of this part · £36.4m in 2025-26 · £47 per resident; similar councils £56 · up 1.6% on 2024-25 - [Fire and rescue](#d-county~fire) £81.55 ** 4.1% of this part · £34.3m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 6.1% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-county~central) £42.13 ** 2.1% of this part · £17.7m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £23 · down 4.3% on 2024-25 - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-county~culture-leisure) £34.09 ** 1.7% of this part · £14.3m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £15 · down 6.5% on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-county~public-health) £9.91 ** 0.5% of this part · £41.1m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £47 · up 5.1% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-county~housing) £8.52 ** 0.4% of this part · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £4.65 per resident; similar councils £2.61 · up 24.6% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-county~housing). - [Planning and development](#d-county~planning-development) £7.52 ** 0.4% of this part · £3.2m in 2025-26 · £4.10 per resident; similar councils £5.07 · down 3.7% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£347.7m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£36.9m) is taken off, because council tax does not pay for it. **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 county councils closest in population: Leicestershire County Council, Suffolk County Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Derbyshire County Council, Devon County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Warwickshire County Council. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £752.32 of your bill goes to adult social care at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £316.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Learning disability support](#d-county~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £343.75 ** 45.7% of this · £144.5m in 2025-26 · £188 per resident; similar councils £135 · up 15.4% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-county~adult-social-care.memory) £98.23 ** 13.1% of this · £41.3m in 2025-26 · £54 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 21.2% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-county~adult-social-care.physical) £92.36 ** 12.3% of this · £38.8m in 2025-26 · £50 per resident; similar councils £143 · up 22.9% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £69.23 ** 9.2% of this · £29.1m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £44 · up 4.9% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-county~adult-social-care.mental-health) £52.48 ** 7.0% of this · £22.1m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £33 · up 5.7% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £45.89 ** 6.1% of this · £19.3m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £21 · down 27.6% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £17.67 ** 2.3% of this · £7.4m in 2025-26 · £9.65 per resident; similar councils £9.77 · up 20.5% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £14.55 ** 1.9% of this · £6.1m in 2025-26 · £7.94 per resident; similar councils £2.94 · up 5.7% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £13.82 ** 1.8% of this · £5.8m in 2025-26 · £7.55 per resident; similar councils £5.13 · up 202.3% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-county~adult-social-care.sensory) £4.33 ** 0.6% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £2.37 per resident; similar councils £2.20 · up 7.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £343.75 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £144.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £316.36 ** 92.0% of this · £133.0m in 2025-26 · £173 per resident; similar councils £117 · up 14.8% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £27.39 ** 8.0% of this · £11.5m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £17 · up 22.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £98.23 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £41.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £91.89 ** 93.5% of this · £38.6m in 2025-26 · £50 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 21.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £6.34 ** 6.5% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £3.46 per resident; similar councils £3.05 · up 19.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £92.36 of your bill goes to physical support at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £38.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £46.67 ** 50.5% of this · £19.6m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £105 · up 40.1% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £45.68 ** 49.5% of this · £19.2m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 9.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £52.48 of your bill goes to mental health support at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £22.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £28.53 ** 54.4% of this · £12.0m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £20 · up 2.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £23.94 ** 45.6% of this · £10.1m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 9.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £4.33 of your bill goes to sensory support at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £1.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £2.85 ** 65.8% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £1.56 per resident; similar councils £1.27 · down 0.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £1.48 ** 34.2% of this · £623k in 2025-26 · £0.81 per resident; similar councils £0.87 · up 27.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £436.07 of your bill goes to children's social care at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £183.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £255.02 ** 58.5% of this · £107.2m in 2025-26 · £139 per resident; similar councils £138 · up 15.1% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £99.03 ** 22.7% of this · £41.6m in 2025-26 · £54 per resident; similar councils £42 · down 5.3% on 2024-25 - Family support £37.52 ** 8.6% of this · £15.8m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £30 · down 1.5% on 2024-25 - Asylum-seeking children £19.80 ** 4.5% of this · £8.3m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £1.73 · up 6.0% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £9.57 ** 2.2% of this · £4.0m in 2025-26 · £5.22 per resident; similar councils £1.38 · up 2970.2% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £8.37 ** 1.9% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £4.57 per resident; similar councils £5.22 · down 5.0% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £6.30 ** 1.4% of this · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £3.44 per resident; similar councils £3.15 · up 273.6% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £0.47 ** 0.1% of this · £197k in 2025-26 · £0.26 per resident; similar councils £7.31 · up 4.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - Education ### Education £373.25 of your bill goes to education at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £504.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Primary schools £139.23 ** 37.3% of this · £188.2m in 2025-26 · £245 per resident; similar councils £271 · up 8.0% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £91.38 ** 24.5% of this · £123.5m in 2025-26 · £160 per resident; similar councils £143 · up 45.2% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £67.16 ** 18.0% of this · £90.8m in 2025-26 · £118 per resident; similar councils £138 · up 15.2% on 2024-25 - Other education £48.61 ** 13.0% of this · £65.7m in 2025-26 · £85 per resident; similar councils £88 · up 1.9% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £16.28 ** 4.4% of this · £22.0m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 7.5% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £10.59 ** 2.8% of this · £14.3m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £52 · up 10.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £136.55 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £57.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-county~highways-transport.maintenance) £59.08 ** 43.3% of this · £26.1m in 2025-26 · £34 per resident; similar councils £22 · down 1.1% on 2024-25 - Concessionary bus fares £26.88 ** 19.7% of this · £11.9m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £8.92 · down 3.5% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £26.61 ** 19.5% of this · £11.7m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £2.87 · up 133.5% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £10.56 ** 7.7% of this · £4.7m in 2025-26 · £6.06 per resident; similar councils £6.40 · up 34.7% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £6.83 ** 5.0% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £3.92 per resident; similar councils £4.67 · down 5.1% on 2024-25 - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £6.59 ** 4.8% of this · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £3.78 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 4.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - [Roads and transport](#d-county~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £59.08 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £26.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £34.49 ** 58.4% of this · £15.2m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £17 · up 20.8% on 2024-25 - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £24.58 ** 41.6% of this · £10.9m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £3.54 · down 21.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £86.65 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £36.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste disposal £63.02 ** 72.7% of this · £26.5m in 2025-26 · £34 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 4.2% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £19.70 ** 22.7% of this · £8.3m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £9.12 · down 4.5% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £3.85 ** 4.4% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £2.10 per resident; similar councils £2.43 · up 0.8% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £0.04 ** under 0.1% of this · £17k in 2025-26 · £0.02 per resident; similar councils £0.48 · down 85.5% on 2024-25 - Trade waste £0.04 ** under 0.1% of this · £17k in 2025-26 · £0.02 per resident; similar councils £-0.50 · down 15.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £81.55 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £34.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £81.31 ** 99.7% of this · £34.2m in 2025-26 · £44 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 5.8% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £0.24 ** 0.3% of this · £100k in 2025-26 · £0.13 per resident; similar councils £0.00 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - Running the council ### Running the council £42.13 of your bill goes to running the council at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £17.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £30.46 ** 72.3% of this · £12.8m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £7.20 · down 15.4% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £4.84 ** 11.5% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £2.64 per resident; similar councils £2.52 · up 28.9% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £4.53 ** 10.7% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £2.47 per resident; similar councils £2.08 · up 2969.4% on 2024-25 - Other central services £1.27 ** 3.0% of this · £534k in 2025-26 · £0.69 per resident; similar councils £0.01 · down 53.0% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £0.81 ** 1.9% of this · £340k in 2025-26 · £0.44 per resident; similar councils £0.50 · down 8.6% on 2024-25 - Registering births, deaths and marriages £0.20 ** 0.5% of this · £83k in 2025-26 · £0.11 per resident; similar councils £-0.36 · down 59.3% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £0.03 ** under 0.1% of this · £11k in 2025-26 · £0.01 per resident; similar councils £2.15 · down 35.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £34.09 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £14.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Libraries £22.43 ** 65.8% of this · £9.4m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £8.43 · down 6.5% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £7.37 ** 21.6% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £4.02 per resident; similar councils £1.94 · up 5.1% on 2024-25 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £4.29 ** 12.6% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £2.34 per resident; similar councils £2.04 · down 21.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - Public health ### Public health £9.91 of your bill goes to public health at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £41.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £3.34 ** 33.8% of this · £13.9m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 10.8% on 2024-25 - Drug and alcohol services £2.52 ** 25.5% of this · £10.5m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 5.4% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £1.64 ** 16.5% of this · £6.8m in 2025-26 · £8.82 per resident; similar councils £8.11 · up 5.8% on 2024-25 - Other public health £1.06 ** 10.7% of this · £4.4m in 2025-26 · £5.70 per resident; similar councils £5.34 · up 35.9% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £0.51 ** 5.2% of this · £2.1m in 2025-26 · £2.76 per resident; similar councils £2.06 · down 4.7% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £0.37 ** 3.8% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £2.01 per resident; similar councils £2.39 · up 9.8% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £0.33 ** 3.4% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £1.80 per resident; similar councils £2.34 · down 15.5% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £0.09 ** 0.9% of this · £387k in 2025-26 · £0.50 per resident; similar councils £0.86 · down 8.5% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £0.03 ** 0.3% of this · £112k in 2025-26 · £0.15 per resident; similar councils £4.41 · down 18.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £8.52 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £3.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Supporting People and welfare services £7.45 ** 87.5% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £4.07 per resident; similar councils £2.60 · up 32.8% on 2024-25 - Other General Fund housing £1.07 ** 12.5% of this · £448k in 2025-26 · £0.58 per resident; similar councils £0.04 · down 13.0% on 2024-25 **Council homes are not in this.** Council housing is paid for through the Housing Revenue Account, from tenants' rents, and the law keeps it separate from the General Fund that council tax goes into. Oxfordshire County Council reported no Housing Revenue Account for 2025-26: it has no council homes of its own, or they were transferred to a housing association. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council](#d-county) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £7.52 of your bill goes to planning and development at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £3.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £5.56 ** 74.0% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £3.04 per resident; similar councils £2.41 · down 4.2% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £1.49 ** 19.8% of this · £625k in 2025-26 · £0.81 per resident; similar councils £0.69 · up 204.9% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £0.47 ** 6.2% of this · £197k in 2025-26 · £0.26 per resident; similar councils £0.59 · down 68.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Oxfordshire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Oxfordshire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase £38.23 of your bill is this year's adult social care precept, which councils may raise on top of the usual limit for adult social care. It is shown against how Oxfordshire County Council's adult social care spending of £316.2m divided in 2025-26. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. - [Learning disability support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £17.47 ** 45.7% of this precept · £144.5m in 2025-26 · £188 per resident; similar councils £135 · up 15.4% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £4.99 ** 13.1% of this precept · £41.3m in 2025-26 · £54 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 21.2% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical) £4.69 ** 12.3% of this precept · £38.8m in 2025-26 · £50 per resident; similar councils £143 · up 22.9% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £3.52 ** 9.2% of this precept · £29.1m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £44 · up 4.9% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £2.67 ** 7.0% of this precept · £22.1m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £33 · up 5.7% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £2.33 ** 6.1% of this precept · £19.3m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £21 · down 27.6% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.90 ** 2.3% of this precept · £7.4m in 2025-26 · £9.65 per resident; similar councils £9.77 · up 20.5% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.74 ** 1.9% of this precept · £6.1m in 2025-26 · £7.94 per resident; similar councils £2.94 · up 5.7% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.70 ** 1.8% of this precept · £5.8m in 2025-26 · £7.55 per resident; similar councils £5.13 · up 202.3% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.22 ** 0.6% of this precept · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £2.37 per resident; similar councils £2.20 · up 7.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £17.47 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £144.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £16.08 ** 92.0% of this · £133.0m in 2025-26 · £173 per resident; similar councils £117 · up 14.8% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.39 ** 8.0% of this · £11.5m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £17 · up 22.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £4.99 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £41.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £4.67 ** 93.5% of this · £38.6m in 2025-26 · £50 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 21.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.32 ** 6.5% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £3.46 per resident; similar councils £3.05 · up 19.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £4.69 of your bill goes to physical support at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £38.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £2.37 ** 50.5% of this · £19.6m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £105 · up 40.1% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £2.32 ** 49.5% of this · £19.2m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 9.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £2.67 of your bill goes to mental health support at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £22.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £1.45 ** 54.4% of this · £12.0m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £20 · up 2.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.22 ** 45.6% of this · £10.1m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 9.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Oxfordshire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.22 of your bill goes to sensory support at Oxfordshire County Council. Here is how its £1.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £0.14 ** 65.8% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £1.56 per resident; similar councils £1.27 · down 0.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.08 ** 34.2% of this · £623k in 2025-26 · £0.81 per resident; similar councils £0.87 · up 27.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £298.28 of your bill is this year's adult social care precept, which councils may raise on top of the usual limit for adult social care. It is shown against how Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £715.9m divided in 2025-26. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Vale of White Horse and Oxfordshire County Council spent, net of income, on the lines readers ask about most. Roads and street cleaning are also shown per mile of road the council looks after, where it is the highway authority. Gully cleaning and verge cutting are inside routine maintenance; no return splits them out. | Line | Net spending | Per resident | Similar councils, per resident | Per mile of road | Change | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Parks and open spaces (including play areas)Details | £1.5m | £9.69 | £7.77 | — | up 48.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£9.69Similar councils, per resident£7.77Per mile of road—Changeup 48.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £2.3m | £15 | £11 | — | up 23.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£15Similar councils, per resident£11Per mile of road—Changeup 23.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Line | Net spending | Per resident | Similar councils, per resident | Per mile of road | Change | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Parks and open spaces (including play areas)Details | £3.1m | £4.02 | £2.33 | — | up 5.1% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£4.02Similar councils, per resident£2.33Per mile of road—Changeup 5.1% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £26.1m | £34 | £22 | £8,977 (similar: £5,441) | down 1.1% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£34Similar councils, per resident£22Per mile of road£8,977 (similar: £5,441)Changedown 1.1% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £15.2m | £20 | £17 | £5,241 (similar: £4,193) | up 20.8% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£20Similar councils, per resident£17Per mile of road£5,241 (similar: £4,193)Changeup 20.8% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £10.9m | £14 | £3.54 | £3,735 (similar: £894) | down 21.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£14Similar councils, per resident£3.54Per mile of road£3,735 (similar: £894)Changedown 21.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £3.0m | £3.92 | £4.67 | £1,038 (similar: £985) | down 5.1% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£3.92Similar councils, per resident£4.67Per mile of road£1,038 (similar: £985)Changedown 5.1% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £4.7m | £6.06 | £6.40 | £1,605 (similar: £1,408) | up 34.7% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£6.06Similar councils, per resident£6.40Per mile of road£1,605 (similar: £1,408)Changeup 34.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | | Miles of road: Department for Transport road lengths, 2025; locally managed major roads and all minor roads. More on [what council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#local-environment). ## What it adds up to | Service | Per resident | Median | | --- | --- | --- | | Environment and regulationDetails | £64 | £56 | | Median£56 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £37 | £41 | | Median£41 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £29 | £22 | | Median£22 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £22 | £24 | | Median£24 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £5.28 | £23 | | Median£23 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £0.68 | £-4.53 | | Median£-4.53 | | | - Vale of White Horse spent **15.6%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for district councils in England: 39.3%); the rest went on suppliers, contractors, grants, benefits and other running costs. | Service | Per resident | Median | | --- | --- | --- | | EducationDetails | £656 | £736 | | Median£736 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £411 | £457 | | Median£457 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £238 | £242 | | Median£242 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £75 | £65 | | Median£65 | | | | Public healthDetails | £53 | £52 | | Median£52 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £47 | £58 | | Median£58 | | | | Fire and rescueDetails | £45 | £48 | | Median£48 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £23 | £21 | | Median£21 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £19 | £16 | | Median£16 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £4.65 | £2.98 | | Median£2.98 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £4.10 | £5.56 | | Median£5.56 | | | - Oxfordshire County Council spent **24.2%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for county councils: 28.8%); the rest went on suppliers, contractors, grants, benefits and other running costs. ## What this data does and doesn't show - These are each body's own figures, as reported to government in its revenue outturn return. Net spending is after the fees, charges and grants a service brings in. - Your bill is for 2026-27; it is shared out using the latest published return, which covers an earlier year. The mix of spending changes little from one year to the next, but it does change. - Council tax is not ring-fenced: this shows your bill in proportion to spending, not what your money bought. Where a precept is set aside for adult social care, it is shown against adult social care. - No council publishes spending at street or property level, so nothing here says what was spent near you. - Sub-service lines are the ones the national returns itemise. Councils describe their own budgets differently; their budget books and statements of accounts have more detail. ## Sources - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: Table 10, local authority level data](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a02eeeccd2e0e8b5b20b449/Table_10_2026-27.ods), published 25 March 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab26ffffe72ed1e2b02ee74/Revenue_Outturn_time_series_data_v4.csv), published 28 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. How the split is worked out, and how the three nations' returns are matched to one list of services, is on the [methodology page](/methodology/#council-spending). The dataset is on the [data page](/data/#council-spending). See also [council tax in Vale of White Horse](/council-tax/england/vale-of-white-horse/) and [everything else about Vale of White Horse](/your-area/vale-of-white-horse/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Vale of White Horse? A Band D bill of £2,577.44 is split between Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Parish and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £752.32.Is council tax ring-fenced for particular services? No. Council tax is pooled with grants, business rates and fees. The adult social care precept is the exception: councils raise it for adult social care. ## Sources for this page | Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics) | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | the 2026–27 financial year | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | | [Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab26ffffe72ed1e2b02ee74/Revenue_Outturn_time_series_data_v4.csv) | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 28 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Related pages - [Next in this section: Parking income in Vale of White Horse DC](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/vale-of-white-horse-dc/) - [Back to Vale of White Horse: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/vale-of-white-horse/) - [How much is council tax and what does it pay for?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/) - [Who is my MP, and what does their office cost?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/mps/) - [Where does my tax money actually go?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/for-every-100-pounds-of-tax/) ## More from this publisher - [UK tax calculators](https://howlongisit.co.uk) Published by [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). The figures belong to the publishers listed under Sources and are used under their licences. Figures last updated 29 September 2026.