City councillor Bob Price again demonstrates stunning self-denial in a letter that encapsulates the mindset that leads to Oxford City Council being so poorly run by its politicians (Oxford Mail, March 6).

In summary, he attempts to convince Oxford Mail readers that Oxfordshire County Council is not ranked excellent' and the city council is not ranked weak'.

Can I urge anybody who doubts these basic black and white facts to visit the Audit Commission's website? It can be seen at www.audit-commission.gov.uk This is the body that inspects all councils. It will leave local people in no doubt as to the quality of the local authorities that serve them.

The city council's executive member for better finances last year admitted that the city council is a "high-cost, low- performance authority".

Figures show that some of the city council's services are among the top three most expensive in the country.

Only recently, it was revealed that out of 238 English district councils, the city council ranked 218th in terms of staff sickness.

This is the council that wishes to take over crucial services such as education, highways and social care from the county council.

In February this year, the county council was ranked excellent' by the Audit Commission.

The county council provides 80 per cent of Oxford's services.

To try to deny these simple and independently verified facts demonstrates an ability to rewrite the truth that George Orwell would have recognised.

Sadly, it also shows why the city council is so badly run.

If you don't recognise that drastic improvements need to be made, how will you ever make them?

At the county council, we recognised the need for improvement and we improved.

We intend to continue improving.

It is sad that Mr Price is engaged in a power grab rather than concentrating on sorting out his own woefully inadequate services.

Keith Mitchell Leader Oxfordshire County Council