THE likely shape of local government in Cheshire if there is a 'yes' vote for an elected regional assembly is due to emerge in early December.

In Chester district, officials at the Boundary Committee have the headache of resolving three different preferred scenarios which have been put forward.

If there is a yes vote in next year's referendum, both the County and City Council and Cheshire's other district councils would be axed in favour of one or more new authorities. These would provide all the services at present run by the County and district councils.

In a re-run of its unsuccessful 'One council for Chester' campaign proposed in the last review of local government 10 years ago, the City Council believes as its first choice it should be a unitary authority on its present boundaries.

City councillors say the idea would 'build on the achievements of the City Council and Cheshire County Council, providing a unique opportunity to blend the best of both.'

The town hall argues the idea 'reflects the views of the majority of the residents of Chester.'

It claims the possibility offers the prospect of savings of nearly £90 a year for band D council tax payers in the district.

Cheshire County Council, however, has voted for a single unitary authority covering the whole of its present area.

County Hall, which lost a battle to hold on to Warrington and Halton in the last review, believes just one new council would 'offer huge savings for taxpayers and more power to towns and villages.'

One council for Cheshire, suggests County Hall, would save council taxpayers up to £23m a year in running costs and would be the cheapest reorganisation option.

Cheshire's six district councils, however, have put forward what they describe as 'a radical plan to reshape Cheshire' under which Chester would become part of a new Chester and Cheshire West Council, merging with neighbouring Ellesmere Port and Neston.

This is backed by Ellesmere Port and Neston.

This could be a possibility if Chester was successful in its go-it-alone bid. Vale Royal and Crewe and Nantwich councils would merge in the district councils' plan to form a new Mid Cheshire Council.

Macclesfield Council leader Peter Burns argues three new councils would be 'a natural development for local government' which reflects the different patterns of life across Cheshire.

But the County Council, one of only 22 authorities rated 'excellent' across the country, believes a three council option could cost up to £21m a year extra.

'Scaremongering about council tax levels is not going to help local people make a rational choice,' he insisted.

He added: 'Cheshire County Council's proposal for a unitary authority is merely an exercise in maintaining the status quo and will take local government over the horizon and away from local people.'

County Hall sees it differently and says its proposed single unitary council, likely to meet in central Cheshire, would guarantee a 'revitalised local democracy' through the devolution of powers to 12 new area committees and town or parish councils based on more natural local communities.

The Boundary Committee will publish draft recommendations by December 2. It will then hold public consultations between December and February before making representations to the Secretary of State by May 24 next year.

CHESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL A COUNTY Hall statement says a unitary Cheshire offers huge savings for taxpayers and more power to towns and villages.

Recommending a single unitary authority for Cheshire if voters choose Regional Government in next year's Autumn referendum, County Hall argues a single unitary - backed by all political groups - could save council taxpayers between £17m to £23m a year in running costs alone and also entails the smallest bill of any option for change.

In direct contrast, claim county councilors, a two unitary option could cost taxpayers around £1.5m annually and a three unitary model from £12m to £21m.

And it counters district claims of 'remote-ness' with local arrangements based on the council's 'strategic capacity' and expertise as one of England's 22 'Excellent' authorities. 'Cheshire cannot only claim 'excellent authority' status but it can also boast the highest customer satisfaction rate in the country,' according to council leader Cllr Paul Findlow (Con.)

'The alternative of three unitaries could cost the equivalent of £173 a year in future council tax at band D - a rise of approximately 19%.'

County Hall argues these figures do not include the cost of introducing new authorities, for which no Westminster help will be available or the £7m annually that Cheshire council taxpayers already pay each year for the last local government reorganisation in the 1990s.

Labour Group Leader, Cllr Derek Bateman says: 'We recognise that the most efficient and effective way of delivering quality services across Cheshire is without doubt a single unitary authority.'

'Therefore, we support the submission of all options put to the boundary committee.'

Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Sue Proctor commented: 'Cheshire has a first class track record for delivering quality services to its people.

'It will provide an excellent base on which to create a new unitary authority with much greater levels of local representation and accountability.

'On a regional basis it would provide an authority with the strategic ability, expertise, experience and resources to hold its own with our big Metropolitan neighbours.'

CHESTER CITY COUNCIL THE City's claim to be a unitary authority in its own right is described as 'Under one roof.'

Councillors have concluded the council can provide all local services itself. The council supports the principle of unitary local authorities 'providing a simple, streamlined single tier of local government based on local communities.'

The city council's second option is to merge with Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council to form a unitary authority and a third option is to create new unitary councils on the boundaries used by the primary health care trusts in Cheshire.

The leaders of all three political groups on the council, Cllrs David Evans (Lib Dem), John Price (Lab) and Margaret Parker (Con) said in a joint statement: 'One tier of local government would provide significant benefits to the people of Chester.

'There would be a single point of contact for council services, which would be more effective, less confusing and, in the long run, cheaper for the district's residents, workers and visitors.'

THE DISTRICT COUNCILS CHESHIRE'S district councils describe their plan to reshape Cheshire into three unitary councils as 'radical'.

The councils plan to use the review of local government in Cheshire as an opportunity to end what they describe as the confusion about who is responsible for what in district and county councils and put local councillors in charge of public services in local areas.

This, they argue, would be a natural development for local government based on mergers of neighbouring authorities to reflect the different patterns of life across Cheshire.

Cllr Peter Burns, leader of Macclesfield Borough Council, on behalf of the Cheshire Districts says: 'Our joint submission - three modern Cheshire councils - involves minimal council tax changes and any claims to the contrary are without foundation.

'Scaremongering about council tax levels is not going to help local people make a rational choice.

'The districts' proposal for three modern Cheshire councils demonstrates a forward-thinking, rational and open-minded approach which we believe will help the Boundary Committee develop the right solution for Cheshire.'

Anne Bingham-Holmes, Chief Executive of Vale Royal Borough Council, on behalf of the Cheshire District Chief Executives said: 'This joint approach demonstrates that the six districts are determined to find the best possible solution for the future of Cheshire, even if for some that means making hard decisions about their own status as an individual authority.'