Poor co-operation between Oxford City Council and the county council has made local democracy a waste of time.

That was the verdict of the city council's Cowley Area Committee after people complained that nothing ever seemed to get done.

Only a dozen people attended June 4's meeting of the committee, one of several intended to bring local government closer to the people of Oxford.

Syd Castle, 70, of Boswell Road, told councillors: "There's no co-operation between the county and city councils. This is why you've got no audience. The turn-out is terrible."

Cyril Claridge, 78, of Hockmore Street, produced a letter from the city council dated October 5, 1993, that proposed making Hockmore Street one-way at a cost of £9,000, "subject to the agreement of the county council".

Mr Claridge said he had received a similar letter in January 2000, but still nothing had been done.

Committee chairman Bryan Keen blamed the county council for failing to act on requests and complaints passed on by the city.

But Temple Cowley county councillor Biddy Hudson said it took such matters seriously.