Vital scrutiny work is being put on ice creating a system of secrecy at County Hall - according to opposition councillors.

Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats claim scrutiny reviews - aimed at putting county council policy under the microscope - are being delayed because of a lack of resources.

The reviews allow back-bench and opposition councillors to hold the cabinet to account and scrutinise policy decisions and performance.

But Lib Dems say a lack of staff to carry out scrutiny work is causing unacceptable delays.

Lib Dem Group leader Zoe Patrick said there were 15 reviews waiting to be started in a six-month backlog.

But council leader Keith Mitchell said the system was working well and it was up to the scrutiny group to prioritise its workload.

Mrs Patrick said: "There could be all sorts of things we're not finding out about and we just will not know."

She added: "We are very concerned that reviews are being held up by lack of resources.

"I cannot see how we can have confidence in the council when councillors of all parties are increasingly unable to review council services by the overall squeeze on resources.

"That is not value for money - it is entrenching a complacent and increasingly secretive system."

She said delays were down to Tory cost-cutting: "It's being taken out on scrutiny work and it's a case of 'oh, that can wait'."

The Lib Dems are set to table a question at a meeting of the council this week asking ruling Tories what measures they are taking to ensure a robust scrutiny process is in place.

Mr Mitchell said there had been no budget cuts: "They have a budget and I have not been told they need more money.

"What they will have to do is prioritise review work to make sure the most important gets done."

He added: "If they have not got staff in place that's a temporary issue in placing staff, not a funding issue."

Mr Mitchell said there were three scrutiny officers and one vacancy.

He said scrutiny was valued by the Tories: "There is every evidence that scrutiny is working well."

When the Conservatives claimed control of County Hall in 2005 they appointed Tories to chair all scrutiny committees - a move dubbed undemocratic by opposition councillors.