A PACT between three council bosses to bid for an Oxfordshire 'super council' would 'wreak devastation' on people in Cherwell, it has been claimed.

In an announcement on Monday, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils said they were backing proposals put forward by Oxfordshire County Council which could save £20m a year.

It would see council tax made the same for all households, with the new authority also given sweeping powers to approve major housing developments across the county.

The existing six councils – which currently manage services separately – would all be abolished, meaning up to 180 councillors and 400 staff could lose their jobs.

Cherwell District Council leader Barry Wood said: "These plans would wreak devastation on the very people I am elected to protect.

"Time and again Oxfordshire County Council has proven it is inept at managing its budgets and responsibilities; its council tax has gone up year on year but service provision has gone down.

"Cuts were made to children’s centres, highway maintenance and bus routes, when the only thing that really needed to be cut – and wasn’t – was the grass.

"The idea of a one-size-fits all council is ludicrous."

South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and the county council said they want 'a quick decision' from ministers, so that elections for the super council could be held as early as May 2018.

In a joint statement, Vale of White Horse leader Matthew Barber, South Oxfordshire leader John Cotton and county council leader Ian Hudspeth said: "Becoming a single unitary council will transform the way we deliver our services to the people of Oxfordshire for the better - we have come together to make this happen."

It is a dramatic change in position for Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire, which previously argued a super council would be too unwieldy 'distant' from local people.

But the announcement reveals they have won several concessions, including assurances council tax would be the same across different areas, protections for their cash reserves, and a larger number of local committees for decision making.

A proposed limit stopping local committees from considering planning applications of 200 homes or more could also be changed, Mr Barber said.

He added: "In my district we deal with planning applications of that size and larger with no problems, so I think there are good reasons for area boards to consider them."

The council leaders have been backed by Wantage MP Ed Vaizey.

The three councils said their bid to the Government in March would 'build on' proposals launched by the county council last month.

They claim £400,000 could be saved a week – enough to fill 5,700 potholes or pay for almost 20,000 hours of home care – if a super council takes over services currently split between county and district level, such as rubbish collection, roads, council housing, planning, leisure centres and social care.

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price accused the three Conservative-run councils of making a 'power grab' with their bid for a county-wide shake-up.