SUBMISSIONS have been invited from councils about how Cheshire should be governed but a consensus seems a long way off.

Local government reorganisation is back on the agenda after a White Paper was unveiled by communities secretary Ruth Kelly seeking to simplify the system and lower costs for council tax payers.

But what the future structure will look like is anyone's guess given the lack of agreement between the various councils and even within political groups.

So the White Paper's other theme of devolving power to local communities may be difficult to achieve given the short time scale in which to reach agreement - the document was released at the end of October with submissions needed by January 25.

Ms Kelly has invited councils in Shire areas like Cheshire to bid for unitary status - to carry out all local government functions.

Alternatively, they can bid for enhanced two-tier working between the county and district councils.

The Tories who control Cheshire County Council's would prefer no change but would rather have an influence on their destiny if other authorities are to make submissions and would therefore consider the improved two tier option.

Deputy Tory leader David Rowlands agrees the idea of reducing council tax, but said: 'Everybody is sympathetic in principle but not everybody is sympathetic in practice.'

Vale Royal Council is the first authority in Cheshire which has decided not to make a submission.

Tory council leader Cllr Keith Musgrave suspects the government intends to impose change.

'Submissions have to be fully costed and worked out by January 25. There doesn't seem much chance.'

Chester City Council leader Paul Roberts (Lib Dem, Farndon) says the first option for his group would be a unitary Chester but this is unlikely to be acceptable to the government given the motivation to achieve economies of scale.

The other option is to form a super unitary with Ellesmere Port and Vale Royal councils.