A new regime begins in local government in Oxfordshire on Monday (November 5).

The county council will officially launch its new administration, replacing the committee system with a leader and two-party cabinet run by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups, with Labour in opposition.

This follows the second criticism of the council's performance this year, from a team of officers and councillors from other local authorities.

The Improvement and Development Agency team praised the council's professionalism and innovation, committed staff and good business partnerships. But it said problem areas included:

**Weak political and managerial leadership

**Too much focus on Oxford, and not enough on the rest of the county

**Lack of cross-departmental working.

Leader of the council Keith Mitchell said: "This report allows us to take the lessons of the past and learn from them, so that we can provide better services across the board."

The two-party alliance would improve leadership, and help different council departments to work together more efficiently, he said.