The Windrush Leisure Centre and two other sports centres may be run by private management if a proposal before West Oxfordshire District Council is approved.

District councillors are being urged to privatise both the leisure centre in Witney and the new centres - yet to be built - in Chipping Norton and Carterton

The centres would be run by Wycombe Leisure Ltd, a non profit-making company.

One councillor is making a last-ditch bid to stop the move going ahead, saying it is illegal. Paul Wesson claims the transfer to an outside organisation is being carried out in a "flagrant and undemocratic fashion".

He says that senior officers and members of the new cabinet are steam-rolling ahead with the transfer without proper debate.

The issue goes before the council's finance scrutiny committee next Wednesday.

Chief executive Geoff Bonner denies the claims. "The implication that the council has taken action illegally is strongly refuted," he said.

The option of transferring leisure centre management came up two years ago and a working party was set up.

The reason behind the decision is that the combined annual income from the three leisure centres would exceed the VAT exemption level.

Council finance director Vic Allison said: "We would probably be looking at income of between £100,000-200,000 a year.

"We would have to pay tax at 17 per cent on that."

A decision on whether to accept the bid of Wycombe Leisure Ltd will be made by the full council on October 31.