A SINGLE council model for Buckinghamshire took a step closer to becoming a reality as a business case is set to be sent to government for approval.

Bucks County Council (BCC) agreed to put forward to government its plans for a single unitary authority, scrapping the five councils that currently operate in Bucks in favour of a single body.

Councillors debated the decision at the full council meeting on Thursday and agreed to take the next step which could lead to savings of £18m a year.

The four district councils - South Bucks, Chiltern, Wycombe and Aylesbury Vale - are developing their own case separately through consultants Deloitte.

BCC leader, Councillor Martin Tett, said: “This would be an entirely new council, with only one chief executive and one leader. This new council would make access and accountability for services in the county so much easier to understand for residents and businesses.

“We believe that our business case is in the very best interests of everyone in the county and we hope our colleagues at the district councils will join us in helping to make it work.”

Councillors voted 32 in favour, with 10 abstentions, but concerns were raised about whether the county council had hastily pushed through the business case.

Cllr Janet Blake said: "The haste in publishing the report is like something out of wacky races. Why is there such a haste to push it through to the Department for Communities and Local Government?"

Cllr David Shakespeare added: "How can I say that it is the best decision for the county and residents when it is three weeks until the districts produce their report?"

The BCC business case states that the new council would save £18m a year and “put power in the hands of local residents” by providing 19 community hubs for where residents can access their key services.