CRAVEN could be about to learn its fate today (Wednesday) with an expected Government announcement on local government reorganisation.

A consultation on two proposals to remove two-tier local government in North Yorkshire closed in April.

Under the plans there were two options – one would see a new single authority proposed by North Yorkshire County Council and covering its current footprint, with York remaining as a separate unitary council.

The other option would see an east-west split in a model proposed by the six of the seven district councils, including Craven District Council.

It would remove all existing councils in North Yorkshire and York and merge them into two new unitary authorities.

Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton would join together to form a unitary council in the West, with a population of 363,000.

Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough would form the other unitary council in the East, with a population of 465,000.

Chief executive of Craven District Council, Paul Shevlin said: "It has been indicated there would be a written statement published about the reorganisation today."

The announcement was expected to happen before the House of Commons Summer recess, which starts tomorrow (Thursday).