Top councillors are split on the issue of reorganisation, but council bosses are in favour of the shake-up, exclusive research has revealed. Forty-three per cent of councillors are against a restructure, compared with 42% who support the move. A further 12% support restructuring, but not for their own area.

However, 70% of senior officers said there should be a restructure, with just 27% against. The poll, carried out exclusively for The MJ by MYB Research, found 53% of council bosses were in favour of reorganisation based on a combination of districts – although 61% of them were from districts themselves. Comments from the respondents made it clear local circumstances were a major factor. And one officer said: ‘A key issues is the consensus to take this forward. It will be a huge waste of resources if there is not agreement from the districts and the county councils.'