City of York's council chiefs are celebrating cautiously today after the Boundary Committee announced that it does not intend to recommend any changes to the city's boundary.

However, the committee has emphasised that it has not yet finalised its recommendations and is seeking views from interested parties before making its final recommendations to the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Boundary Committee is reviewing the structure of local government in North Yorkshire ahead of next year's referendum on regional government. The current mix of district and county council authorities will be replaced by unitary authorities if residents vote for regional government in Yorkshire and Humberside. More/

Boundary/2 York's response to the Boundary Committee's consultation, supported by consultation with the council's Talkabout panel, was strongly in favour of maintaining its existing boundary - a view that was shared by the other authorities in the county.

David Atkinson, chief executive of City of York Council, said: "The council is against any potential changes to the city's boundary, particularly as residents who already live in a unitary area, such as York, would be unable to vote on any changes. We are delighted that the Boundary Committee has taken the concerns of the council and residents into account. We trust that they will maintain this stance and will be making a consultation response to them to reinforce our position. "

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Boundary/3 York provided three main reasons why the city's boundary should not be changed in the event of regional government:

Any boundary change would not necessarily increase York's performance and would detract from its improvement programme. Unlike two tier authorities, structural change for York is not essential; and the council believes that it needs to focus on improvements to existing service delivery, which it is committed to completing

The council believes that there is not a specific natural community that exists externally to its existing boundary

Any increase in York's boundary to incorporate the higher cost surrounding areas in North Yorkshire can only add to the council's costs

Possible options include: one unitary authority comprising the whole of North Yorkshire three unitary authorities based on the existing districts in North Yorkshire (Craven and Harrogate; Hambleton and Richmondshire; Ryedale and Scarborough). Selby would be integrated with East Riding of Yorkshire

two unitary authorities based on existing districts in North Yorkshire (North Riding of Yorkshire: Hambleton, Richmondshire, Ryedale and Scarborough) and (Craven and Harrogate). Selby would be integrated with East Riding of Yorkshire

two unitary authorities based on existing districts in North Yorkshire (Yorkshire Dales: Craven, Harrogate and Richmondshire) and (North York Moors: Hambleton, Ryedale and Scarborough). Selby would be integrated with East Riding of Yorkshire