A council committee failed to decide on plans for a banana-shaped university leisure centre after four councillors decided they were ineligible to vote.

The Oxford University Club wants to create a £4.5m centre for staff on playing fields in Mansfield Road. The controversial plan would see the demolition of an Edwardian cricket pavilion and groundsman's flat to make way for a large, curved, modern building.

Four councillors on the city council's central, south and west area committee ruled themselves unable to vote on the application because of their university links.

Cllrs Deborah Glass (Green) and Jeremy Wynne (Lib Dem) sent their apologies. Mike Woodin (Green), Bill Baker (Lab), Colin Cook (Lab) and Tony Brett (Lib Dem) all declared an interest, leaving only three councillors eligible to vote.

Committee clerk Colin Gregory said: "The application may now be dealt with by the strategic planning committee."

Last year, the old-style planning committee was scrapped as part of local government reorganisation.

Some councillors expressed reservations about the system, where planning applications are dealt with by area committees, but Cllr John Goddard, executive member for planning, insisted area committees were well-equipped to handle large applications.

He said: "I think it highly unlikely that all university applications will be referred to the strategic planning committee."