COUNCIL leaders from Vale Royal and Crewe and Nantwich gathered to tell the public they are united in favour of local government reorganisation.
They met this week following agreement from the Boundary Committee, charged with the task of restructuring local government, with a recommendation that three unitary authorities - with split control of Cheshire - is on a list of possible options in a referendum next autumn.
At the referendum, residents will be first asked if they want regional government.
Then they'll be quizzed on what type of regional government they want.
The suggestion put forward by all the borough councils of Cheshire is to create three unitary authorities, which has been approved as a realistic structure if the change was to go ahead.
Unitary authorities provide all the services residents need, such as education, waste collection, highway issues and planning matters, which were previously divided between the borough council and county council.
In the plan, Vale Royal is partnered with Crewe and Nantwich to create a Mid Cheshire unitary authority.
Congleton Borough would join Macclesfield to create the East Cheshire Council and Chester City Council would join Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council.
The leader of Vale Royal Borough Council, Cllr Keith Musgrave, said: 'I am delighted the joint district proposal will be given an opportunity for the public to consult on it.
'This option presents a clear chance for the public to get closer to the councils who serve them and to have a real say about how and where their council tax is spent.'
The Mid-Cheshire Council would have about 70 elected members, a ratio of one councillor to every 3,000 voters.
Deputy leader of Vale Royal Borough Council Cllr Arthur Wood believes the creation of a unitary Mid-Cheshire Council would give the residents of the area a greater say in the running of their council.
'Residents will be given real access to the key decision-makers and will be able to become significantly more involved in the work of the council,' he said. 'I believe it will give residents a bigger voice and influence in how their borough is governed.'
If the change went ahead, it could bring a reduction in council tax.
Opposition leader Cllr Brian Lloyd believes the amalgamation of Vale Royal with Crewe and Nantwich would be cost-effective.
He said: 'The Audit Commission has confirmed that it would cost £13m less a year to run the unitary Mid-Cheshire Council.
'This finding would reflect the reduction of council tax, which was achieved and maintained by Warrington and Halton when they became unitary authorities.'
Vale Royal chief executive Anne Bingham-Holmes said: 'We need to forge an authority that can punch its weight, and the joint six districts believe that our proposal will ensure residents have councils that can deliver excellent services and local, accessible councillors.
'While our councils take part in the Local Government Review, I want to assure all our residents that we will continue to deliver the same high level of service.'
