District councils are prepared to engage with local government reorganisation but warn against ‘rigidly insisting' on a minimum population of 500,000, according to a survey.

A District Councils' Network (DCN) survey of more than 100 of its members found four out of five (79%) were not opposed to the principle of reorganisation. However, only 15% backed the idea of a unitary authority with a population of 500,000, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's preferred minimum population size.

Nearly a quarter (23%) of respondents said a unitary authority covering less than 300,000 residents would best suit their area.

The DCN argues that unitary authorities with more than 500,000 people – which has labelled ‘mega councils' – risk overriding local identities.