AN announcement that North Yorkshire's local authorities will not be forced to restructure has been welcomed.

Local Government Minister Phil Woolas said that reorganisation without local agreement was "99.999% ruled out".

The comments were made during an interview with the Local Government Chronicle.

In the interview, Mr Woolas admitted ministers "have an inclination towards a unitary model", but that proposals for change would have to stem from local areas.

The remarks have been welcomed by chiefs at Richmondshire District Council.

Last week, opponents of the council's £5m move to Colburn held up possible local authority restructuring as a reason to defer a decision.

In a statement, Richmondshire District Council's chief executive, Harry Tabiner, said: "There is certainly no consensus in North Yorkshire on a particular unitary model."

Council leader, Councillor Bill Glover, said: "A great deal of that argument was pure speculation in order to back- up their opposition.

"A decision on the move was delayed when the regionalisation debate took place last time, and the comments from Mr Woolas show there was no reason to delay yet again a decision that will lead to this district council providing better services to our residents."

But Councillor John Blackie, who called for a decision on the council move to be deferred, said: "I think you will find that when the Government White Paper comes out, the benchmark and targets for local government in the future will mean they've given us no choice but to seek consensus for smaller district councils to work together with larger councils - in short, they will make us an offer we can't refuse."

Councillors voted in favour of the move to Colburn by 18 votes to 17 last week

Coun Blackie also questioned why the chief executive and leader felt it necessary to issue a statement when they had already got the decision they wanted.

A White Paper setting out the Government's long-term vision for the future, including the possible structure of local authorities, is expected in the summer.

On Thursday, Mr Woolas will travel to York to discuss the issue with council leaders from across the county.