Phil Woolas has admitted some councils could be forced into reorganisation by the Government against their will, if conflicting proposals are put forward by authorities.

The leader of Wear Valley DC, ~Neil Stonehouse~ said the local government minister told councillors at a round-table meeting in York last week that they were expecting competing bids. Cllr Stonehouse said: ‘What he was saying was that the Government was happy with having competing bids.' He added that the minister confirmed this would lead the Government to decide between the proposals, confirming reports in The MJ that the Government would have to impose new structures in some cases.