Tories on South Oxfordshire District Council have condemned plans to consider moving the council's HQ.

Conservative leader Ann Ducker said there were far more important issues to think about.

The Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition that runs the council has the backing of Independents to set up a working party to consider what should be done at the site at Crowmarsh, near Wallingford.

The options are to do nothing, to refurbish the site, rebuild it completely or demolish the building.

Mrs Ducker said: "The whole future of local government is uncertain. That's a sound reason not to be moving offices. We should look at the health and safety aspects of the existing offices and get a report on what needs doing."

She said that, in 2000, the ruling groups had wanted a new council chamber and only the intervention of the Conservatives and the district auditor had prevented the money being spent.

Mrs Ducker added: "We must get some common sense back in south Oxfordshire and look at the real issues -- crime, social housing and waste management, to name but three."