A RADICAL council merger has been backed by the leader of Bucks County Council.

Following moves in Wycombe to investigate a cash saving unitary authority, Cllr Martin Tett said he welcomes the idea.

Cllr Gary Hall, independent, a leading campaigner on the issue, won a recent vote at Wycombe District Council to examine the possible savings as he warned of cataclysmic cuts coming from Government.

Read more on the merger idea and campaign HERE.

A report in 2006 stated that rolling together the five existing district councils and BCC into one could have saved an estimated £35m a year.

In 2007 the council took a vote on unitary council status but instead pursued a 'Pathfinder' shared services initiative which was scrapped after a £1m investment.

At a BCC meeting on September 19 Cllr Alan Stevens said: "If this work (at Wycombe) shows scope for significant savings for WDC and the other councils that could be involved would BCC look at joining with them?

"Is he concerned that if this goes too far that BCC could be broken up?"

Cllr Tett replied: "On a personal basis I think my views are very well known. I've always supported the idea of a unitary council for Bucks with greater powers devolved for parish and town councils to compensate for that.

"However, any agreement to move forward on anything like that basis I believe needs to be by consent.

"It's not for BCC to dictate to the district councils what the local Government structure should be in Bucks.

"If there are any proposals put forward that both reduce the cost to taxpayers and increase services for residents then I'd open to any approaches I receive."

His comments come not long after Beaconsfield MP and Attorney General Dominic Grieve suggested the Government would be open to the idea, if it were to save taxpayers' money.

A task group will look at the pros and cons of a unitary authority, and will present a report, which could then go to WDC's cabinet.