SENIOR councillors of Oxfordshire’s biggest authority have supported calls for a debate on creating one ‘super authority’ for the county.

Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth said it would be the only way for services to be maintained under tough financial pressures.

He told cabinet colleagues that abolishing the district councils, city council and the county council and replacing them with a unitary council was “the best deal”.

The cabinet voted to put the concept up for a debate of the full council in March.

The call came after the district councils ruled out having one council and claimed a report published by the county council on the subject was “error strewn”. The report was produced by international audit firm Ernst & Young.

But Mr Hudspeth challenged the councils to explain the errors: “So far no one has pointed out to me where these errors lie.

"We have an international company with a reputation that is probably bigger than Oxfordshire, so I think we should be taking their figures seriously.”

The Ernst & Young report set out three options for the future; a single council, a city council and a rural council and a city council, a north rural council and a south rural council.

But at yesterday’s meeting Bloxham and Easington county councillor Kieron Mallon said there was “a fourth option”.

He said three unitary councils – in the city, north and south – could be created, but share services, like a single authority.

Mr Mallon added: “I would say it is the best of all the options and it already works in neighbouring areas.”

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