THE recent proposal by the district councils to abolish the county council and take over its responsibilities was constructed behind closed doors with the knowledge of several of our MPs, including the Prime Minister himself.

It seems that very few councillors of the districts or the city were in the know until the last minute.

No-one at the county council, including the Tory leader, had any idea it had been coming.

It might be that the district councils’ proposal has some merit – we have yet to see any supporting figures– but that is not the point.

Is this the way local government is to be run in Oxfordshire – in secret, determined by the internal machinations of the Tory Party?

Any final decisions over one or more unitary councils should surely be decided by the residents of Oxfordshire based on as much independent evidence for the merits and demerits of each option as can be gathered.

I have no doubt that the overwhelming majority of Oxfordshire residents simply want the best possible value for their money and as many of their services preserved as possible.

The district councils’ underhand approach has set an atmosphere of mistrust and anger in what badly needs to be a sensible, rational discussion.

Hostile takeovers may be a part of City life, They have no place in local government.

RICHARD WEBBER (Cllr)
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group
Oxfordshire County Council