COUNCILLORS in Oxford have joined forces with counterparts in Exeter, Norwich and Ipswich in a bid to convince the Government they should run all services in the city.

The four councils are expected to make bids for unitary status in 2009 by the end of the summer.

The move will put the city on collision course with the county council and could also upset some of its other district neighbours.

The Town Hall has made no secret it wants to sever ties with Oxfordshire County Council and be given the power to run all services affecting city residents.

It will spend £5,000 as a contribution towards a joint bid with Exeter, Ipswich and Norwich district councils.

County council leader Keith Mitchell has told the city to "dream on", claiming it is in no fit state to run services like schools and social care.

The consortium of councils will fund a range of consultancy work, examining how much it would cost to run a unitary authority and how much Government money each could expect to receive.

Oxford could become a unitary authority as early as 2009.

Under the current two tier set-up, which opponents claim is confusing and undemocratic, some services are run by the city council and others like schools and transport are provided by County Hall.

Alex Hollingsworth, the leader of Oxford City Council, said: "The time is right.

"I would be absolutely hugely disappointed if we were not considered, we have a very good case and it's been put on a plate.

"The issue is all about accountability, people in Oxford voted in a council because they voted for the policies of those politicians, but at the moment that doesn't happen in the city it disappears in a smoke-filled room at County Hall.

"People in Oxford can't hold to account people who make decisions about their lives.

"With a unitary authority they could kick them out."

The Government is due to publish a white paper later this year detailing plans for a reorganisation of local government, the first such shake-up since the mid-90s.

Oxford, Exeter, Ipswich and Norwich did not succeed with their bids last time. In Oxfordshire, there was acrimonious debate over a proposal for three new unitaries based on Oxford; the south of the county; and the north and west of the county. Oxfordshire County Council argued successfully for the status quo.

Councils wanting to be a part of the next review have to submit proposals by September.

In March David Miliband, the minister in charge of reorganising local government, told the The Oxford Times: "The case against the two-tier system is it is confusing and expensive."

Oxford City Council is the only district in the county to say it will be submitting plans for unitary status this time round.

There are four realistic options for the county: A unitary for Oxford city and one each for the north and south of the county A unitary in Oxford and a two-tier or unitary system elsewhere in the county A unitary for Oxfordshire No change to the present system In a letter to The Oxford Times today Mr Mitchell said: "Oxford city (council) is rated a weak council by the Audit Commission.

"The city's latest audit report, which it sought to suppress, says it does not offer value for money.

"Is this the same Oxford city that is campaigning to become a unitary council to take over the running of our schools, social care, libraries and transport within the city boundaries?

"Dream on."

James Hehir, the chief executive of Ipswich Borough Council said: "We are four places that wanted to be unitaries in the mid-90s, we are four historic county towns and large urban areas surrounded by rural hinterlands, so it makes sense.

"The two-tier system leads to confusion and lacks leadership.

"The performance of unitary authorities, like Blackburn and Hartlepool, has been good and many are top performing councils.

"Similarly there are lots of county councils that are basket cases."