RULES on leafleting in Oxford city centre could be relaxed after pressure on council chiefs.

City board member for cleaner greener Oxford John Tanner will make a decision on proposals to relax rules introduced last year which require people to have licences to hand out leaflets. Organisations wanting to leaflet in the city centre and East Oxford have to pay £400 a year for a licence to do so.

The council came under fire for the original policy, with opponents claiming small groups would not be able to afford the payments.

But if new proposals are approved, discounts of up to 87.5 per cent will be offered to certain groups, and others will be exempt from paying.

Since the decision last September, more than 180 licences have been issued, including annual and monthly consents, netting the council £30,000.

In a report to Mr Tanner, public health team leader Graham Eagle said a separate consent scheme should be introduced to cover static leaflet displays, with a £200 annual licence.

He also said exemption should be given to organisations including the NHS, police and the fire service while not-for-profit and community groups should get a discount rate of £50.

Mr Tanner is due to make a decision on the issue at a meeting in the town hall at 5pm today. The public can attend.