Bath and North East Somerset residents have nothing to gain from the council joining forces with the historic county, the leader has said.

Somerset County Council and the four district authorities have drawn up proposals for a major overhaul of local government but Dine Romero said it is too risky.

North Somerset Council has also rejected the invitation from Government, describing it as "downright rude" when the authority has never been part of the talks.

Speaking at the cabinet meeting on November 5, Councillor Romero said: "In May 2018 Somerset County Council announced its intention to explore a model of government which might deliver better services in Somerset.

"The then administration commissioned some advice in 2018 so that it could objectively take part in those early discussions. That advice concluded that there were significant risks of the council's ability to deliver its strategic priorities.

"Any benefits were deemed to be insignificant compared to the scale of risk.

"I do not believe that that situation has changed. I do not believe we have anything to gain by submitting a late extra possibility for Government to consider."

She said North Somerset Council's bid to join the West of England Combined Authority was more urgent creating a new council with "untried partners".

Somerset County Council has put forward a "One Somerset" model, with everyone in one large unitary authority, whereas the four district councils have put forward the creation of two unitary authorities.

B&NES Council is already a unitary authority and Cllr Dave Wood said any shakeup risked taking the centre of power away from its residents.

He said: "There just is not the business case for this to proceed. We have to consider what's best for residents.

"There has been speculation that a greater Somerset three-county solution might be possible – I don't believe the figures add up."

"The authority would run all the way from Bath to the Devon border – our area would be swamped and people would be so far away from the centre of decision making that this would be a poor outcome for our residents."

Cllr Richard Samuel said: "The history of county-based reorganisations around the country has not been a happy one.

"These reorganisations consume an enormous amount of time. When all councils are trying to work with our colleagues in the NHS to help tackle the Covid pandemic this in my mind is a costly and entirely unnecessary distraction.

"I'd say thanks but no thanks."