The Labour and Conservative group teamed up to call for the public to have their say on the council’s controversial plans for traffic filters, the workplace parking levy and to expand the Zero Emissions Zone (ZEZ).

Labour councillor Charlie Hicks proposed the first motion, which called for the creation of a Congestion Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Public Transport to involve citizens across the county in transport measures.

The Labour group secured funding for this in the February Budget. 

Eddie Reeves, leader of the Conservative opposition, made an amendment calling for the council to create a citizens’ assembly or a congestion commission, which would consist of elected members, local businesspeople, public sector leaders, faith group leaders and academics with relevant expertise in the field, who would advise on the effectiveness of traffic measures.

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This was accepted by Mr Hicks, who said in his opening speech the motion was about letting the public have their say about congestion and restoring public trust in local democracy.

“Some things matter more than sustainable transport policy. They are community division, polarisation and loss of trust in politics.

“The approach we are trying to put forward is about healing this division.”

“Fundamentally we need to give power over to citizens, to force the administration to loosen its grip and to give that power back over to the public.”

He added the decision on the traffic filter trial in 2022 had “timed out” due to delays to the reopening of Botley Road, and that it needed “a fresh injection of democracy” to give it legitimacy.

After his amendment was accepted, Mr Reeves said: “The minority administration has been somewhat high handed in its approach to these policies.

“I hazard a guess that we can do better than these policies if we bring in local businesses, public sector organisations, religious groups and others into the conversation.”

Independent Voice of Oxfordshire Group councillor Damian Haywood put forward an amendment to the motion calling for transport to be discussed at the existing citizens’ assembly, but it was not passed.

Labour councillor Duncan Enright seconded the main motion, while councillor Mark Lygo, councillor Liz Brighouse, councillor David Bartholomew and councillor Trish Elphinstone spoke in support.

Labour councillor Mark Lygo said: “We’ve had years of residents and businesses being talked to and not engaged with.

“What we need to do now is press reset, avoid blame and conflict and allow past mistakes to be forgotten.”

Lib Dem councillor John Howson, cabinet member for children, education and young people’s services, spoke in opposition of the motion.

He said: “I wonder whether the position of the two opposition parties is to consider the whole last decade a terrible mistake and now to champion the role of the car to clog up our roads with little or no thought for cyclists and pedestrians.”

Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport, said: “[The citizens’ assembly] is on its way, let it do its work.

“There’s not a syllable about what the Conservatives or the Labour group would do instead.

“The Tories want us to talk to academics and the emergency services – do you really think we’re not already doing that? Of course we are, all the time.”

Conservative councillor and former cabinet member for transport Yvonne Constance broke ranks with her party and voted against the motion.

The motion narrowly passed through the council, with 29 votes in support and 20 against.

The cabinet will consider the proposal.