COMMUNITIES Secretary Sajid Javid has been urged to block controversial proposals for a ‘super council’ in Oxfordshire.

In a direct appeal to the cabinet minister, who is expected to have the final say, the leaders of Oxford City Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and Cherwell District Council warned the shake-up could have ‘devastating consequences’.

They claimed plans for a countywide ‘unitary’ authority – which would save £20m by replacing all the biggest councils – would lead to council tax hikes and local priorities being overruled.

The Oxford Mail can also reveal the three authorities have secretly commissioned polling company Ipsos MORI to survey 1,950 people on the proposal – with taxpayers footing the £43,500 bill.

In a joint statement, city council leader Bob Price, Cherwell District Council leader Barry Wood and West Oxfordshire District Council leader James Mills said: “We stand united against the proposals for a unitary council which we maintain are flawed and will disregard the specific needs of each individual city and district.

“We are three strong performing councils but we are different in the way we operate and that is what’s key to our success.

"This would be lost if a unitary model were to proceed.”

They also defended their decision to pay for polling, which saw each authority pay a £14,500 share.

Cherwell, the city council and West Oxfordshire have put aside total war chests of £150,000, £75,000 and £25,000 respectively to fight the proposal for a super council, insisting they are responding to a ‘propaganda campaign’ being waged by supporter Oxfordshire County Council.

The county council has itself budgeted more than £200,000 for its campaign and has been backed by Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils.

A spokeswoman last night said: “The county council has always been committed to a devolution deal that would deliver vital investment for Oxfordshire.

“The government has told us that a unitary council is a good vehicle for devolution, so let’s make local government in Oxfordshire simpler, not even more complicated and costly.”

The Department for Communities and Local Government was asked to comment on the letter but failed to respond.

A petition started against the plan by Oxford City Council last night had almost 6,000 signatures.