CHESHIRE County Council has welcomed the commission's suggestion that its proposal for a single unitary authority would be the least disruptive and cheapest option.

Responding to the draft recommendations the county claimed its bid would save taxpayers more than £4 million a year at the very least.

In its report, the committee stated the cost of 'being in business' for each option put the county's proposals at the cheapest.

A single unitary authority would cost £4.2 million to operate than an east-west division, the second of the recommendations and would be £6.3 million cheaper than Vale Royal Borough Council's bid for three unitary authorities.

County leader Councillor Paul Findlow said: "I am delighted that the committee has recognised the strength of our submission, which we strongly believe is in the very best interests of the people of Cheshire.

"Indeed, the report also supports our contention that this totally needless reorganisation of local government will cost the council taxpayer dearly."

County Councillor Sue Proctor, Liberal Democrat leader, said: "Cheshire County Council already provides around 80 per cent of the services received across the county and has more people working to provide those services in every hamlet, village and town. Less than four per cent of our workforce is based at County Hall.

"Under our plan, people at grass roots level will be able to have responsibility for major decision making and in their own communities and that has to be a huge improvement to the democratic process."