A NEW tier of local government could be established in a large part of Durham City.

Eight parishes in the city with a population of 24,618 do not have a parish council, unlike other parts of the district further from the city centre.

Durham City Council is looking at whether one parish or town council should be created, or councils established in each parish.

Either the county council or the city council will be abolished, to be replaced by unitary service provision, if the Yes campaign wins November's vote for a directly-elected regional assembly. Parish councils will remain.

Many parish councils, often depending on the size of the community, carry out comparatively few functions and levy little council tax - but are important in relaying grassroots opinion to higher authority. But in some bigger areas they do a lot of work and have big budgets.

Brandon and Byshottles, the district's biggest parish council, has six wards, 21 councillors and serves 11,830 people.

The council's scrutiny committee is to look into the issue and proposals could be put out to public consultation.

Council leader Sue Pitts said: "This is just the start of the process. There is a long way to go and it has to be what people want.

"Councils like Peterlee, Aycliffe and Spennymoor have big budgets and do a tremendous amount.''

She said parish councils could have an enhanced role to play in reflecting local opinion if the local government structure is replaced by one unitary, or all-purpose, council for the entire county.