Just one council for all of North Yorkshire and York suggested by senior councillor

Richard Musgrave, deputy leader at Selby council, says a single council to replace the existing nine would be a compromise between the rival visions so far presented to the Government.

In a letter to Local Government Minister Luke Hall seen by The Yorkshire Post, Coun Musgrave criticised the two existing proposals for two councils split down east/west lines or a single authority for North Yorkshire with York left alone.

The Conservative, who is also a county councillor, said a single structure for North Yorkshire and York would be easy to understand and save the most money for taxpayers.

He wrote: "The area would be instantly recognisable as a single entity for promotion of tourism and business interests through having an iconic and globally recognisable city at its heart with a network of great market towns; world recognised landscape with two national parks, charismatic coastline and good transport links both by rail and road."

Ministers announced plans for a devolution deal for North Yorkshire in July last year, with the caveat that the current structure of the county council and seven district councils is replaced with a unitary structure.

Official submissions from councils in North Yorkshire were made in December but it is feared the Government has now gone cold on the devolution agenda following the delay of a White Paper setting out its vision for transferring powers from Westminster.

Coun Musgrave backed the submission of the two rival plans but in his letter to Mr Hall was critical of both.

He said the plan to create a North Yorkshire council without the City of York is "probably the easiest option to implement but is uninspiring and does not address issues facing York".

He added: "The County Council makes much of the success of Durham and Cornwall based on having a city at their heart but then puts forward a proposal which excludes York."

On plans for two authorities either side of the A1, one of which would include York, he said this "would inevitably lead to divergence across North Yorkshire".

He said a council for all of North Yorkshire and York would fit in with the way health, police and fire and rescue services are already provided, as well as the Local Enterprise Partnership.

And he wrote: "I understand that a consultation is due in the early part of this year and urge you to include the option of combining York & North Yorkshire so the benefits of this option can be considered fully; I believe it would have significant support."

Though this suggested council would serve a population of 800,000 people, Coun Musgrave said this was no bigger than for Leeds City Council.

He said: "York is the absolute hub of the area in terms of history, in terms of culture, it is the biggest urban area in North Yorkshire. It is the transport hub, so much revolves around York.

"And if you put York with its hinterland you'd have one iconic city and 47 or 48 really great market towns, you'd have a huge rural hinterland including two National Parks. You'd have the North Yorkshire coastline, you'd have the lot."

He said that City of York Council, which is struggling to get its Local Plan development vision approved by the Government, had a history of delivering too few homes, "faces service problems and is low on reserves".

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the submitted proposals are being considered and it will “respond in due course”.