CALLS for a referendum to decide whether council tax should rise by more than two per cent have intensified following David Cameron’s criticism of Oxfordshire County Council’s spending plans.

Independent councillor Lynda Atkins, who called for a public vote last month along with other independents, believes the scale of the proposed cuts is so huge that the people must now have the final say.

She believes a referendum could be held before the local council elections in May.

As revealed this week by the Oxford Mail, the prime minister waded into the issue back in September by writing to county council leader Ian Hudspeth accusing him of making too many cuts to frontline services.

Ms Atkins, who represents Wallingford, said: “The fact that the prime minister is concerned shows just how serious it has become. A referendum is the only sensible way forward because the level of cuts we are looking at now is just so huge.

“We need to give people the option to pay a bit more council tax.

“In the first few years of cuts we managed to take money out of the system and keep some services.

“But this year it has become too much.”

County council Labour group leader Liz Brighouse and Green Party county councillor Sam Coates also said a rise in council tax was necessary to try to counter a further £50m of potential cuts in comings years.

Mr Coates said: “The Green Party has said for three years that we should raise council tax. We are much closer now to a referendum .”

Mrs Brighouse backed a council tax rise but said she was less sure about a referendum, which it is estimated could cost £800,000.

She said: “The motion on Tuesday shows 63 councillors think we should be putting the tax up.

“The issue is whether we have to spend that sort of money on a referendum.

“If we were voting I would say I would pay more, but there are a lot of people who would not say that.

“I honestly do not know if the council will raise tax because there are a lot of things to consider, not least the cost of a referendum.”

Despite the £800,000 estimate, Ms Atkins and Mr Coates both said a referendum could be carried out for less if it was combined with local government elections due in May.

County council spokeswoman Emily Reed said: “The cost depends on whether it is a standalone election or shared with another election so could cost between £600,000 and £800,000.

“We would encourage everyone in Oxfordshire to read our consultation document which outlines different saving options in the context of the budget limitations the council is facing.”

In 2010 the coalition Government introduced a policy which meant any local authority would have to hold a referendum if it wanted to raise council tax by more than two per cent.

A public vote would be triggered if Oxfordshire County Council votes in February for a budget involving more than a two per cent hike.

On Tuesday, councillors voted unanimously to ask the Government for permission to raise tax without a vote.