FUNDING has been set to fight against proposals to create a super council.

Councillors in West Oxfordshire have approved setting £25,000 aside to finance the ongoing campaign to convince residents to reject the One Oxfordshire plan.

The One Oxfordshire idea is to close the six district councils and the county council, creating one unitary body.

Councillor James Mills, leader of the council said: “I am representing the views of our residents. This is just a small sample of the letters, emails and telephone calls I have received.

"This is not a programme of this council’s making but when it is so clear how our residents feel, I believe we must relay the other side of the story."

Cllr Mills added that the County Council is spending £200,000 on its campaign and said he had made it clear to them that he believed there are 'better things to spend the money on.'

He added: “The County keep saying they will save £20m a year under One Oxfordshire. But I believe the districts could show Oxfordshire how to save up to five times as much as that.”

Cllr Mills is in favour of the creation of a combined authority model with a local mayor which would pave the way for devolution.

The cash will be used to finance the communications strategy which includes a social media campaign and online survey, a letter to residents and signs in prominent positions across the district.

Addressing a meeting of full council on Wednesday, Cllr Mills held up letters from residents supporting West Oxfordshire District Council’s position.

An Oxfordshire County Council statement said: "Running six councils is wasteful and inefficient.

"It costs £400k per week to run six councils, money which would be saved by creating one new council for the whole of Oxfordshire.

"That money saved could be spent on frontline services and keeping council tax down, not council bureaucracy.

"Without change, important local services could be reduced and some may be cut altogether."

Oxfordshire County Council’s survey can be seen at: www.oneoxfordshire.org/get-involved