IT does not bode well for campaigners that, two months after there was finally an admission an error was made over approving the Castle Mill accommodation blocks, councillors have only progressed to passing a motion demanding a meeting with Oxford University.

It was in February it first emerged Oxford City Council was bowing to complaints the higher buildings were too big a blot on the landscape from Port Meadow, by asking the university to shave a couple of storeys off.

Last night, the west area planning committee was told no tangible progress had been made, with council leader Bob Price’s request for a meeting proving fruitless. So they passed a motion demanding a meeting. Taxpayers have the right to expect a lot more.

The city council has got itself into an awful mess over the shambolic planning process, whereas the university has done nothing wrong. The council needs to bite the bullet and either foot the bill or admit it is powerless to correct its failure – then see decision makers demonstrate proper accountability.