A SINGLE council covering North Yorkshire could save taxpayers between £10m and £21m compared with other options under scrutiny, according to the latest report presented to senior county councillors.

The Boundary Committee for England is considering redrawing the local government map.

Among the possibilities are a single council for North Yorkshire, two unitary authorities with Selby relocated to the East Riding, and three unitary authorities, also with Selby relocated to the East Riding.

The comparative costs have been drawn up and the boundary committee has concluded one, all-purpose North Yorkshire Council would be £3m cheaper than two and £6m cheaper than three, although none of the estimates include set-up costs.

However, North Yorkshire County Council's executive says it has worked out a more accurate breakdown.

It estimates that if set-up and running costs are included, a single council would be £10m cheaper than two and £21m cheaper than three.

County council leader Councillor John Weighell said: "Six million pounds is bad enough, but we think people ought to know what the real costs of these new authorities could be.

"The report to the executive shows that they will be very much higher than the estimates of the boundary committee. £10m is equivalent to £51 difference in the annual council tax bill for a Band D property and £21m is equivalent to £108."

The county council also says similar work in other areas of the country shows costs will be much higher than the boundary committee's estimates.

Academics have also shown costs were much higher in the last reorganisation than estimates made at the time.

Councillor Weighell said: "This money could make a big difference to services in the county instead of being used to meet the overheads of multiple councils.''