THE Liberal Democrats will introduce garden waste collection from every home in Oxford if they gain control of Oxford City Council, as expected, next week.

And the Lib Dems would also delay the implementation of the controversial wheelie bin scheme, scheduled for this october, until further consultation has been carried out.

In the aftermath of last week's city council elections, discussions between the main political groups over the running of the Town Hall are continuing.

But The Oxford Times has learnt that Labour is poised to return to opposition for only the second time in 25 years.

A coalition of some kind is not yet out of the question, but discussions between the three main groups have been fraught and in any event a deal has to be struck by next Thursday's annual council meeting.

However, the Lib Dems now the largest at the Town Hall with 19 councillors have drawn up a five-point plan in readiness for assuming control.

With a strong emphasis on cleaner and safer neighbourhoods, the five points are: Creation of Neighbourhood Environmental Action Teams Devolution of more power and money to area committees Introduction of garden waste collection from every house A 24-hour council service helpline Promised better financial management Lib Dem group leader John Goddard said: "I think it is likely the Liberal Democrats will form a minority administration.

"It would be nice if we could have a magic wand, but we don't, so we are not going to suddenly find ourselves in the sunny uplands.

"A 24-hour helpline will make it easier to get to a council that is helpful and willing and recycling has public support, but we need to consult properly so the council knows what each household wants and can support.

"People are not getting value for money from their council tax with high-cost, low value-for-money services and this is something we will address.

"What matters is whether the council is helping to look after neighbourhoods.

"We want people to be able to notice something very soon, but I can't say we are instantly going to make the world a better place."

Labour went into last Thursday's elections with 21 councillors and finished with 17, losing high-profile councillors Maureen Christian and Carole Roberts in the process.

The Oxford Times has been told the issue of housing specifically a Labour pledge to build on Green Belt land around the edge of Oxford is a major stumbling block preventing the groups joining forces.

Labour group leader Bob Price said: "I would prefer it (the city council) to be Labour-run it's unlikely, but not impossible. We intend to work with the other parties to achieve our manifesto commitments."

A long-term aspiration of the Lib Dems is to transfer the city council's leisure services to a not-for-profit charitable trust, as other district councils in the county have done.

The group also favours the city subsidising taxi tokens for pensioners living in parts of Oxford not well served by buses.

Oxford City Council's Green group leader Craig Simmons said: "We are moving into unknown territory. The Lib Dems haven't run the city before and we will be holding them to account as effectively as we have done Labour."