Communities secretary Sajid Javid plans to wade into the local government reorganisation row in Buckinghamshire, The MJ understands.

Mr Javid is thought to have told councils he is prepared to decide between a Buckinghamshire CC business case for a county-wide unitary and rival plans drawn up by the county’s districts.

Today, Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe DCs announced they would be submitting a joint proposal to the Department for Communities and Local Government for two unitary authorities based on a north/south split.

Chiltern leader, Cllr Isobel Darby, said: 'We have asked the secretary of state to give us his assurance that he will not make a decision until we have submitted our own proposals so that he can make an informed decision on what the best option for the people of Buckinghamshire may be.'

South Bucks leader, Cllr Ralph Bagge, added: 'For the secretary of state to only consider the one proposal that he currently has would, in our opinion, be greatly premature.

'While we recognise that ongoing uncertainty is undesirable we do not think that speed should determine the long-term future of local government in Bucks, or indeed anywhere else in the country.' 

Wycombe leader, Cllr Katrina Wood, said: 'We firmly believe that the two unitary authority approach, based on a north/south split, is much better suited for the people of Buckinghamshire and the services they need.'