A COUNTY council has put its case for a single authority if a proposed regional assembly gets the go-ahead.
One tier of local government in County Durham will have to be scrapped if a regional assembly is approved.
The Government wants the current mix of district and county councils to be replaced by one unitary council, which would bring all locals services under one authority.
The Boundary Committee for England has begun its review of the current set-up and is expected to make draft recommendations for consultation in December.
Its final recommendations are expected in May next year.
County and district councils want a regional assembly, but their views differ on what should happen afterwards.
Durham County Council said a single council serving the whole region would be the best solution.
The district and borough councils want the county to be split up and administered by three unitary councils, linking Durham city with Easington, Derwentside with Chester-le-Street, and Sedgefield with Wear Valley and Teesdale.
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