'Oxford is falling behind Cambridge in race for Government's millions'

That is the warning from Peter Thompson, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, who accused politicians of bickering while their counterparts from the fellow university city raced ahead.

A proposed devolution bid for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough could secure £20m a year to spend on roads and infrastructure, as well as £70m to build affordable housing.

But Mr Thompson claimed Oxfordshire’s effort to get a similar deal was falling behind because of “a reluctance” among council leaders to work together.

He added: “We are light years behind Cambridge in terms of collaborative working, where, despite having unhelpful structures, they recognised a long time ago they could serve the best interests of everyone by working together.

“In Oxfordshire all the parties remain at loggerheads and there is clearly still a gulf in perspectives. I do not see how they could put forward a convincing case that says we have got a consensus, or how it will be resolved.”

The chairman’s comments came after councils revealed they were looking at proposals for a combined authority and a directly-elected mayor, as part of efforts to win new spending powers in a devolution deal for the county.

• Different sides of the fence: City council leader Bob Price, left, and county council leader Ian Hudspeth

This was previously ruled out, but is now seen as a possible solution after an eight-month row about whether Oxfordshire’s local authorities should be reorganised.

There are currently five district councils and a county council, which have separate responsibilities.

But ministers and civil servants are understood to have suggested this needed to be made simpler for any deal to be struck.

The ensuing row about how that should be done and the delays it caused were “entirely the fault of the [previous] government” under David Cameron, Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said.

He added: “We put forward our bid and there was a consensus. Then Whitehall said ‘you must look at governance’ and that is what took us down this false alley. 

“Cambridge was not told that, so it is frustrating to have been led up that hill and then down it again.”

Mr Price said it was now hoped new proposals for devolution could be put together before Christmas, but said this would depend on the approach taken by new Prime Minister Theresa May.

He added: “Time is of the essence. The point of devolution is to provide the infrastructure needed to grow the economy, so we really need to get our skates on.”

Proposals for a mayor have been backed by district councils and county council leader Ian Hudspeth.

It came after the districts said hopes for reorganisation should be abandoned because of a failure to agree. 

The county council continues to argue there should be just one council, which two reports found could save more than £100m.

WHO COULD BE MAYOR?

Who could be Oxfordshire's first directly-elected mayor, if councils decide to back one? The Oxford Mail came up with some suggestions...

Lord Drayson (pictured above): As an entrepreneur who has invested millions in clean energy, a former government minister and motor racing driver, Labour peer Paul Drayson certainly has the credentials to be a good ambassador for Oxfordshire. His firm, Drayson Racing Technologies, is based in Kidlington. 

Baroness Lane Fox (pictured below): 

Martha Lane Fox CBE, co-founder of lastminute.com and a prominent businesswoman, was born in Oxford, attending Oxford High School and studying at Magdalen College. At 40, she became the youngest woman to join the House of Lords as a crossbench peer in 2013.

Jeremy Long (pictured below): 

Currently chairman of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Mr Long has experience on the world stage and is currently the European chief executive for Hong Kong headquartered international railway and property group MTR Corporation. One prominent county politician suggested he might be a natural fit for mayor.

Jeremy Clarkson (pictured below): 

An outside choice, perhaps. But controversial broadcaster Mr Clarkson, who lives near Chipping Norton, has been touted as a potential Prime Minister before by the public and would lend the role some much-needed celebrity.