The leader of Oxfordshire County Council is being urged to write to the government to address long-term funding for children across the county.

Liberal Democrat councillor Jane Hanna tabled a motion during the full county council meeting on Tuesday seeking to support Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) children with backing from Westminster.

She called on the leader of the county council, Liz Leffman, to write to the Education Secretary asking for clarity on the government’s plans to address the high needs block deficit, which stands at £21.3 million in Oxfordshire for 2023/24, and to reform the SEND system.

In her opening speech at County Hall, she said: “The timeliness of this motion is one of essence.

“Local authorities are facing bankruptcy by March 2026. There needs to be a shared priority for inclusivity.”

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Labour councillor Brad Baines put forward an amendment, which retracted the part of the motion that calls on the leader of the council to write to the government.

Before she made her opening speech, Ms Hanna made a point of order arguing that Labour breached the council’s rule that amendments should not substantially change the motion.

The monitoring officer decided that the amendment was not in breach.

Speaking on the amendment, Mr Baines argued that the council “needs to give the government space to deliver their plans”.

He stated that if the motion passed without the amendment, it would look as though the council was not listening to the government.

The amendment was defeated with 29 votes against and 13 votes for.

Speaking in support of the motion, councillor Kate Gregory, the cabinet member for SEND, said: “In Oxfordshire the high needs block deficit is in the millions.

“We need clarity now on the long-term plan to tackle the deficit.”

The original motion passed with 28 votes for and 14 votes against, and will await approval from the cabinet.