A COUNCIL magazine which costs taxpayers £180,000 a year is to be axed.

Oxon News is published by the Conservative-controlled Oxfordshire County Council three times a year and distributed to all 286,000 households across the county.

It has been described by the council as the “most cost-effective” way of keeping residents informed but a “Tory propaganda mag” by opposition councillors.

Now council leader Keith Mitchell says the newsletter will go to save cash.

He made the announcement – yet to be approved – at public meetings asking residents’ views on how to cut £200m in the next four years.

Savings are likely to hit services like roads, schools, libraries and social care.

Labour county councillor Liz Brighouse branded Oxon News a “propaganda mag for the Tory party”.

She said opposition councillors were never featured or quoted in articles, adding: “It is a disgrace. I don’t see why we need to spend good taxpayers’ money to publicise the Conservative Party.”

She said council information could be distributed through its website, schools and local newspapers.

The magazine, which started in 2004, features an editorial from Mr Mitchell, articles on council services, a quiz and contact numbers.

Labour-controlled Oxford City Council’s £28,000 Your Oxford magazine is to stay but will be cut from three to two issues a year.

Magazines produced by Cherwell, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire and South Oxfordshire district councils cost a combined total of about £155,000 a year and will also stay.

South Oxfordshire will, however, cut its four issues a year to three.