A DISTRICT council will invest £25,000 of taxpayers’ money into the battle against plans to create an Oxfordshire ‘super council’.

West Oxfordshire district councillors approved the funding for their ongoing ‘communication strategy’ - which has included a social media campaign and online survey - against the county council’s One Oxfordshire proposals.

At the meeting on Wednesday councillors also gave approval to their annual budget, which includes a tax rise of £5 for the average (Band D) household.

Oxfordshire County Council has been calling for the county’s six biggest authorities to be scrapped and replaced with a single organisation, which it argues would save £20m a year and improve services.

Leader of WODC James Mills, however, said he did not believe the best way to make savings was ‘to blow everything up and start again’.

Mr Mills, looking at areas with established unitary authorities, warned that West Oxfordshire’s free parking and low council tax could be lost if the plans go ahead.

Councillor Andy Graham, who voted against the funding, felt there was no evidence backing up the arguments being made by the district council.

He said: “It doesn’t do the council well to whip up fear among residents that we may lose services when there’s no evidence to back it up.”

Last month the council backed plans for a combined authority and directly elected mayor.

These plans would see a single body responsible for the county’s transport and housing budgets,and skills funding for training and further education colleges.