ONE thousand years of Oxford citizens having control of their own affairs could be ended by plans for a ‘super council’, it has been warned.

Oxford City Council boss Bob Price accused Tory councils of making a ‘power grab’ with their bid for a county-wide shake-up revealed by the Oxford Mail today.

They want to take away control of major planning decisions, council housing and sports facilities from the city council, reducing it to a parish authority with limited powers over areas such as parks.

It would be part of plans to merge the six biggest councils in Oxfordshire and save £20m a year.

But Mr Price said: “The creation of a unitary council is unacceptable to the city.

"It puts local democracy at risk and removes the ability of local councils to respond to the needs of their communities.

“A thousand years of city government for Oxford would be wiped out and replaced with little more than a parish council.

"A unitary council for the whole county would not give the city the priority and focus it needs as a densely packed urban community, and a major international significant centre of academic excellence, economic innovation and culture."

Mr Price claimed a reorganisation could see council housing sold off, cuts made to homelessness suppport and grants for community centres and charities put at risk. 

He added: "Oxford City is very different to its surrounding area and only by having its own council can that difference be respected and allowed to flourish."

His comments come after a three Conservative council bosses made a pact to submit a bid for an Oxfordshire 'super council' to the Government next month.

In an announcement today South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils say they are backing proposals put forward by Oxfordshire County Council which could save £20m a year.

It would see council tax made the same for all households, with the new authority also given sweeping powers to approve major housing developments across the county.

The six biggest councils – which currently manage services separately – would all be abolished, meaning up to 180 councillors and 400 staff could lose their jobs.

And the three Conservative-run authorities say they want 'a quick decision' from ministers, so that elections for the super council could be held as early as May 2018.

In a joint statement, Vale of White Horse leader Matthew Barber, South Oxfordshire leader John Cotton and county council leader Ian Hudspeth said: "Becoming a single unitary council will transform the way we deliver our services to the people of Oxfordshire for the better - we have come together to make this happen."

It is a dramatic change in position for Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire, who previously argued a super council would be too unwieldy and 'distant' from local people.

But the announcement reveals they have won several concessions, including assurances council tax would be the same across different areas, protections for their cash reserves, and a larger number of local committees for decision making.

Mr Cotton admitted he still had reservations, but added: "The onus is on us to make sure it works.

"There is a big debate to be had about what the council tax rate should be, but we cannot have different areas paying different amounts for the same services."

A proposed limit stopping local committees from considering planning applications of 200 homes or more could also be changed, Mr Barber said.

He added: "In my district we deal with planning applications of that size and larger with no problems, so I think there are good reasons for area boards to consider them."

The council leaders have been backed by Wantage MP Ed Vaizey.

The three councils said their bid to the Government in March would 'build on' proposals launched by the county council last month.

They claim £400,000 could be saved a week – enough to fill 5,700 potholes or pay for almost 20,000 hours of home care – if a super council takes over services currently split between county and district level, such as rubbish collection, roads, council housing, planning, leisure centres and social care.

But they are yet to win support from Oxford City Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and Cherwell District Council.