READ MORE: Follow yesterday's updates and reaction on our live blog

A “simpler, cheaper and more local” council is on the horizon according to the leader of the county council – who has welcomed the news that the Government has given the green light to “super council” plans for Buckinghamshire.

Councillor Martin Tett was quizzed by the Bucks Free Press on the future of Bucks' council system, following yesterday’s long awaited announcement – however the leader remained tight-lipped as to whether he would take the helm at the new council.

And while secretary of state for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid has backed the single-unitary plan, there are still a few hurdles yet to clear as residents now have until May to share their views.

In the meantime it is “business as usual” for the five councils in Bucks according to Cllr Tett, who assured council staff they will still be needed at a single unitary council.

Major decisions, such as the replacement of children’s centres, will still go ahead as “savings still need to be made”, and councils will continue to deliver their planned budgets for the next financial year.

However it is still not clear how much money the “super authority” is expected to save the county, as the council needs to review the figure of £18 million originally quoted – as “savings have already been made”.

If implemented, it is expected the new council will be based in Aylesbury – however around 19 bases will be dotted around the county so all residents have local access to services.

The Government is not expected to make its final decision until June this year, according to Cllr Tett, with the full transition not expected to take place until May 2020.

Speaking to the Bucks Free Press, Cllr Tett said: “The last thing we want is a period of 18 months or two years of nothing happening, so effectively everybody taking their eye off the ball. We need to make sure we continue to focus on delivering a really good services to the residents of Buckinghamshire.”

There are currently 236 councillor positions across the district and county councils in Bucks, and Cllr Tett expects this to drop to around 98 if the new authority is implemented - with elections for the new council not expected to take place until May 2020.

However Cllr Tett kept his cards close to his chest when asked if he hoped to be appointed as leader, and insisted his priority now is to focus on the consultation process and formulating plans.

He said:“That would be for my members to decide. I will have to take a view nearer the time whether that is something that I want to do.

“My focus is on thinking through that whole period until July, and we can think about if we do proceed with this what that means?

“There is a massive agenda between now and anything that goes live between now and May 2020.”

Cllr Tett added the district Local Plans, blueprints for housing development across the county, will still make their way to the planning inspectors – who will make the final decision – and the plan will then be in place for the new council.

He said: “My simple summary is it is simpler, cheaper, and more local. Simpler – at the moment waste is split between parish councils, district councils and the county council.

“Planning is split between district council and county council, one plans for the number of houses and where they go, and then it is thrown over the fence to the county to provide the infrastructure that goes with that.

“You would never design something like that – you would say it is crazy.”