The Adult Social Care (ASC) Charging Policy Review is a major programme to modernise, align and consolidate Oxfordshire County Council’s charging arrangements across three core areas: Disability Related Expenditure (DRE), Transport Charging, and Telecare Charging. The project brings previously separate policies together into a single, coherent ASC Charging Policy to improve fairness, transparency, sustainability, and financial viability for the Council and service users.
Driven by significant budget pressures and the need to deliver approved Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) savings, the project includes comprehensive data analysis, financial modelling of charging options, and a statutory public consultation covering all three charging elements simultaneously
Key priorities include:
Updating the DRE allowance (modelled at a reduction from 35% to 25%) and understanding the financial and distributional impact on residents.
Designing a fair and administratively deliverable transport charging model, aligned with existing transport policy and system capability.
Bringing telecare charging into the unified policy through consistent interim arrangements
A full public consultation (minimum four weeks) will take place, supported by accessible materials, postal and digital channels, and targeted engagement for vulnerable groups. Consultation feedback will inform the final policy and Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: - Affects more than 1 division;
Decision status: For Determination
Notice of proposed decision first published: 01/04/2026
Explanation of anticipated restriction:
The Charging Policy Review affects thousands of ASC service users across DRE, transport, and telecare charging, delivers significant MTFP savings, carries political and reputational risk, requires a statutory consultation, and results in a formal policy change. Therefore it does not meet exemption criteria
Decision due: 14 Jul 2026 by Cabinet
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Adults
Lead director: Director of Adult Social Care
Contact: Jake Finlay, Project Manager.
Consultation process
The Council will conduct a 4–6 week statutory public consultation with all affected ASC service users (DRE, transport and telecare), carers, partners, and key stakeholders. The process will use postal and digital engagement methods, Easy Read formats, and targeted outreach. Results will inform the Equality Impact Assessment and the final ASC Charging Policy for Cabinet approval prior to planned implementation aligned to the October billing run
Consultees
Directly Affected Service Users
Carers and Families
Targeted Stakeholder Groups
Councillors and Political Stakeholders
Plan Reference: 26/079
Reason No Public Access: None