Liberal Democrat county councillors have attacked the ruling Conservative administration for not spending £309,000 of a windfall grant on community projects.

Opposition councillors called for the sum to be spent on funding youth workers and helping immigrant families to learn English, but the Conservatives have decided not to use the money yet.

The council received a total of £981,000 through the Government's Local Area Business Grant, which donates excess money raised from business rates in Oxfordshire back to the authority.

The Conservatives decided to spend £672,000 of the cash on a number of proposals including: *Funding a new county wide alcohol education and counselling officer *Hiring more black and ethnic minority retained firefighters *Paying for a schools support programme to tackle bullying and domestic violence *Hiring a business expert to advise businesses on how to protect themselves from flooding.

But the Liberal Democrats argued that the remaining cash should be spent on projects for vulnerable people as soon as possible.

They want to use £165,000 to fund an extra youth worker in Oxford city and each of the county's four districts and spend £114,000 on teaching immigrants English.

A further £30,000 had been proposed for Modern Art Oxford's outreach programme "Art in Rose Hill."

The Tories say the money will be spent on worthwhile projects next year.

Lib Dem finance spokesman Alan Armitage accused the Tories of being mean and unimaginative with their money by adding it to the £19m in council coffers.

He said: "These are all proposals that would, in different ways, help communities around Oxfordshire. The amounts are modest but could make huge differences to the individuals.

"The council's balances were extremely healthy already. On the other hand, there was a pressing need to help some communities build themselves up and become part of Oxfordshire's generally prosperous economy.

"This is a missed opportunity. It isn't necessary to put this money in the bank. In fact it is completely inappropriate."

The Liberal Democrat motion was defeated by 34 votes to 24 votes in a full council meeting on last week.

Conservative cabinet member for finance Charles Shouler said: "We are not being mean. This money will be spent on worthwhile projects but it is being reserved for expenditure next year."