AMENDMENTS to change the way the county council operates, borrow cash for road improvements and to set up an emotional wellbeing service all failed yesterday.

Labour and the Lib Dems proposed amendments to the council’s budget plan, but neither party gained enough support.

Labour’s motion to invest £500,000 in 2018/19 in the wellbeing service was dismissed as ‘fluffy and unpredictable’ by the Conservatives’ cabinet member for finance, David Bartholomew.

Liz Brighouse, leader of the Labour group, said the current cabinet system – in which just eight members are given specific responsibilities by the council leader – ‘leaves many councillors without any role or responsibility’.

She proposed the council save £230,000 in 2018/19 to move to a more inclusive committee system, but was voted down.

The Liberal Democrats proposed borrowing £10m to improve the ‘crumbling’ state of Oxfordshire’s roads next year , along with spending £300,000 on subsidies on bus travel for 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education.