OXFORD City Council will be run by an all-Labour executive board, it has been decided this afternoon.

Breaking with recent convention, the new ruling Labour administration - led by council leader Bob Price - has made no room at the top table for opposition councillors.

Opposition groups tried to vote through an amendment, but it was lost on the casting vote of the new Lord Mayor, Labour city councillor Susanna Pressel.

The move mirrors that of the policy-making cabinet at Oxfordshire County Council, which is made up entirely of Tory county councillors and is chaired by leader Keith Mitchell.

City councillor and Liberal Democrat group leader David Rundle said: "This shows the creeping influence of the county council and that Captain Bob (Bob Price) has learned a trick or two from 'Kaiser' Keith (Mitchell).

"The Tories there have a huge majority - Labour here don't even have a majority.

"This is not good for open debate, there can be no doubt about that.

"But we will do what we can to ensure the administration is kept to account."

The new city council executive board is as follows:

  • Bob Price - city council leader and corporate governance and strategic partnerships
  • Ed Turner - deputy leader and finance, housing and strategic planning
  • Antonia Bance - social inclusion and young people
  • Mary Clarkson - culture and heritage
  • Colin Cook - city development
  • Saj Malik - safer communities
  • John Tanner - cleaner, greener city
  • Bob Timbs - leisure and sport
  • Oscar Van Nooijen - service transformation.