A COUNCIL which saved money by reducing eight departments to four is now likely to streamline its committee structure.

Wear Valley District Council consulted the public over Government-imposed changes in the way it operates.

Residents backed keeping the present committee system - with fewer meetings.

They rejected a cabinet- style set-up adopted by other authorities in County Durham, such as Darlington and Sedgefield Borough Councils.

Deputy leader of the council Neil Stonehouse said the authority would probably vote to go along with public opinion when it met at the Civic Centre, Crook, at 2pm, on Tuesday.

He said: "We didn't have to carry out a full consultation, but we sent information out to every household, so we sent the questionnaire as well.

"This means every household has had the opportunity to have their say, because it is their council and their council tax.''

It is hoped that the new structure will be running by October 1.