A council critic who claims he is facing "disenfranchised persecution" was told his question "did not deserve a response" at a meeting this week.

Chaka Artwell, who lives in Oxford, had registered to speak at the full city council meeting on Monday night.

He described the apparent provision of sanitary products in men's public toilets as a "flagrant waste of public money" in his address at the meeting.

Mr Artwell previously fell victim to a "technical glitch" last year after his emails requesting to speak were directed to an unmonitored inbox.

Oxford Mail: Oxford Town Hall.Oxford Town Hall. (Image: Ed Nix)

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He said of the public meetings: "I have to fortify myself to speak because I know my reception is not going to be pleasant.

"Every time I speak they're dismissive.

"I'm not happy we have a council where no one has the courage to question things."

Council leader Susan Brown said: "As far as I'm concerned we have always responded courteously as we did on this occasion.

"His actual address was very confused and had a lot of mistakes in it."

Oxford Mail: Council leader, Susan Brown.Council leader, Susan Brown. (Image: Contributed)

When questioned about calls made by some councillors to not give Mr Artwell an answer, Ms Brown said: "I instantly responded by saying 'no that's not right, of course we must respond'."

A city council spokesman added: "There is no conspiracy here.

"We have apologised to Mr Artwell regarding missing correspondence last year.

"We welcome discussion and debate at our council meetings.

"In the last year alone, 16 speakers have addressed the council on a wide range of matters, including Mr Artwell on three occasions."

Councillor Imogen Thomas, of the Oxford Socialist Independents Group, said: "Chaka Artwell has been given the microphone at many council meetings in the past.

Oxford Mail: Councillor Imogen Thomas.Councillor Imogen Thomas. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

"His contribution at this week’s council was listened to and understood by all, and I want to make it absolutely clear that my group were appalled by his transphobic and homophobic comments.

"We also denounce his mischaracterisation of Stonewall, a charity which has supported so many LGBTQ+ people, some of whom would not not be here today without their vital work."

The comments referred to were stated in Mr Artwell's question in which he spoke about "the current left-wing culture wars" and "upholding" of "Stonewall’s LGBTQIAP2S evangelical creed".

Headington ward councillor, Mohammed Altaf-Khan, said: "Sometimes we need to create a more friendly and welcoming culture.

"Whatever the circumstances are, I think we should engage with people and listen to people and consider whether we can act upon their concerns or not.

Oxford Mail: Councillor Mohammed Altaf-Khan.Councillor Mohammed Altaf-Khan.

"We should have that tolerance.

"When Mr Artwell spoke, the leader constitutionally had to reply.

"There was no need for someone to heckle from the back and say it's not worth it."

Mr Artwell insisted a motion to introduce sanitary products into both male and female toilets had been discussed at full council in November.

But there is no record on the city council website of this taking place.

Monday's meeting had separate comments from councillors talking about a culture of the council being "particularly bad at taking feedback".

Oxford Socialist Independents councillor, Dr Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini, claimed: "There seems to be a huge amount of defensiveness."