VOTERS in Oxfordshire are being urged to make their voices heard and influence how nearly £4bn is spent over the next four years.

Elections take place tomorrow for every seat on Oxfordshire County Council and to choose the South East’s Members of the European Parlaiment.

County council chief executive Joanna Simons – the electoral returning officer – said it was a fantastic opportunity for people to shape the future of the county.

She said: “Voters have the chance to make a real difference about the future of a wide range of really important services in the county.

“The council is responsible for nearly £1bn of public money each year and local councillors have a big say how it is spent.

“Council services affect the daily lives of everybody in the county and include educating and protecting children, helping the elderly, maintaining roads and fire and rescue.

“Sometimes there’s a danger we take our democracy for granted, but you only have to look at the experience of other countries where the electoral system has broken down to appreciate how much of a fundamental right voting is.

“Your poll card gives details of where to vote and polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm. So please use your vote.”

Ms Simons said it was beyond the scope of the council to predict how the MPs’ expenses scandal might impact on how people voted, if at all.

But she said the council had agreed to publish its members’ expenses regularly in the wake of the furore at Westminster.

She said: “County councillors don’t get paid, as they are all volunteers, but they do get allowances to compensate them for the time they put in.

“Oxfordshire councillors receive the lowest allowances of any county councillors in the South East and details of their expenses are published on our website each month.

“The interest in MPs’ allowances only goes to show how important democracy is. We’re fortunate in this country in having a very open system.”

Voter turnout at the last county council election in 2005 was 65 per cent. However, that year voting was held on the same day as the General Election so tomorrow’s turnout is unlikely to be as high, said Ms Simons.

Until yesterday, of the county council’s 74 seats, 44 were Tory, 15 Liberal Democrat, seven Labour, five Green and three Independent.

The counting of votes will take place at Abingdon’s White Horse Leisure Centre on Friday, starting at 10am.

The Oxford Mail will be publishing results and reaction throughout the day on Friday online at oxfordmail.co.uk l In the European Parliament election tomorrow 133 candidates, representing 15 parties, are seeking election to the 10 seats for South East England.

Seats are allocated by proportional representation, with voters asked to indicate a preference for the party they want to support.The more votes a party attracts, the more MEPs it will have.

See all the election candiadtes online at www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/localelections2009/ tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk