Ministers are planning to force English councils to restructure if they do not volunteer to do so themselves. While councils will be asked to volunteer proposals to replace county and district councils with unitary authorities, the Government is contemplating seeking reserve powers in new legislation, despite insisting there would be no compulsion.

These would allow local government minister, David Miliband, to proceed with reform, if a consensus among councils failed to materialise. Councils will be given 12 weeks to come forward with proposals for reorganisation and mergers when Mr Miliband publishes his White Paper in June.