Services like rubbish collection could be run by one council

The authority is earmarked by the government for the new status which would see district councils abolished.

Local control of Craven, Harrogate, Scarborough, Selby, Ryedale, Hambleton and Richmondshire would go if the plans went ahead.

A decision on the county's bid will be made by the government in July.

'Diverse needs'

Hambleton District Council chief executive Peter Simpson, speaking for all the district councils in the county through the North Yorkshire District Council Network, said: "One body serving an area of 3,103 square miles with its extremes of urban and deeply rural communities will not be able to cater for the diverse local needs.

"We continue to urge the government to reject this idea."

chief executive of Scarborough Council, Jim Dillon, said he was disappointed by the news and said the next few months would be "difficult and challenging" while a decision was awaited.

Mr Dillon said the government's consultation had not considered the views of the public, and so the district councils had now decided to commission a survey in an attempt to gauge opinion about the plans.

"The results will be fed back to the government and we are hopeful that they will be taken into account when the final decision on this bid is made", he said.