Keith Mitchell, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, has promised to try to attend as many executive board meetings as possible, after missing his third this year.

As part of local government reorganisation last year, the Conservative group and Liberal Democrat group formed a power-sharing executive to run the council, after 16 years as a hung authority.

The executive board has five Conservative councillors and four Liberal Democrats, and chairman Mr Mitchell has the casting vote.

But the Conservative councillor for Bloxham has missed three meetings this year, due to other commitments, including the South East of England Regional Assembly's planning committee.

On Tuesday, November 26, Mr Mitchell's absence meant deputy leader Margaret Godden, a Liberal Democrat, stood in as chairman for the third time.

The leader was attending a Local Government Network conference in Exeter.

Mr Mitchell said: "I wasn't in Exeter on any sort of junket. I was giving a presentation to councillors from other areas about our budget consultation strategy, which they found extremely useful.

"I do not intend to be absent very often. I'm happy that the meetings will function well without me."

Mr Mitchell added that he would not miss any crucial budget meetings.

Executive meetings are held once or twice a month. The board is the council's key decision-making body.