A TOP-LEVEL meeting is set to discuss City of York Council concerns over York's future under a regional assembly.

A referendum on whether Yorkshire and Humber residents want a regional assembly will be held next year.

The council has given conditional support to a referendum, but has expressed concern over a number of issues.

Senior city councillors will discuss the issues on Tuesday, including local government reorganisation, transparency in decision-making, and where the seat of regional government will be located.

The council's concern over government reorganisation was raised by chief executive David Atkinson in a letter to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which is co-ordinating the move to regional government.

The vote is currently only proposed in two-tier areas, but could result in changes to boundaries of unitary areas.

Mr Atkinson said: "We feel this is wholly unfair if changes to boundaries of existing unitary authorities are being considered."

York is a unitary authority, with one council level, or tier, dealing with all local issues.

Elsewhere in North Yorkshire, such as Ryedale and Hambleton, responsibilities are shared between district councils and North Yorkshire County Council.

Areas with two levels of local government are known as two-tier areas.

A report, which will be debated at Tuesday's meeting, highlights the advantages and disadvantages of York's boundaries being altered.

The advantages are said to include greater regional influence, the possibility of gaining additional land for development, and extra funding.

The disadvantages are described as disruption and upheaval to services, financial cost of change, and concerns from staff.

Mr Atkinson said: "This is an issue the council simply cannot ignore. A regional government would have potentially wide-ranging powers, including responsibility for strategies on economic development, transport, housing and waste.

"While the council has given provisional support to a referendum in the region it has a number of concerns about the way a regional government might work."

Nigel Burchell, senior policy development officer, said in a report: "There are several reasons why York might be considered as the seat of regional government, it is perceived by many as the natural capital of Yorkshire and Humberside and plays a prominent part in the region. It has excellent national transport links and would provide a balance between metropolitan and rural areas."

The report concedes that less wealthy cities than York could make the case to be the hub, to help with regeneration.

The executive meeting will be held at York Guildhall, at 2pm.

Updated: 08:44 Friday, July 11, 2003