YORK is at the centre of two rival devolution bids likely to be presented to ministers next week.

With next Friday the deadline for devolution proposals to be submitted to the Government, it has emerged that two conflicting bids which include York and parts of North Yorkshire will be fighting for approval and support.

West Yorkshire council bosses have already revealed their plan for a Leeds City Region based bid - which would include York, Harrogate, Selby and Craven - but it is understood that alternative bid for York with North and East Yorkshire is also likely to come forward.

Once the rival bids have been through more Government negotiations, key players have suggested that York councillors could be choosing between the two bids as early as December this year.

The city's Conservative council leader Chris Steward said: "It's probable there will be two different submissions going in next week. Up til now the council has wanted to keep its options open, when we could be potentially looking to West Yorkshire, or facing north and east."

"There are still people talking about a Greater Yorkshire bid - which would include North, West and East Yorkshire, and York and Hull - but those people have so far just spoken about it rather than putting together anything tangible."

On the Leeds bid, North Yorkshire County Council bosses have reportedly refused to hand over control of areas like transport to the district councils of Selby, Harrogate and Craven, meaning their involvement in the Leeds City Region deal would be limited to associate membership.

NYCC leader Carl Les said allowing the district authorities control over areas such as transport would hamper the county council's ability to deliver sustainable services.

"They asked the county council if we would transfer powers to them and we said 'no'," the councillor added.

"We are looking at the interests of all our residents in Hambleton, Richmondshire, Scarborough, as well as Harrogate and Craven."

Cllr Les described the negotiations as "very, very complicated" and claimed the talks were being made more difficult by the attitude of some of those involved and the problem of numerous council officers and senior members being away on holiday.

"If it is to work there needs to be a greater deal of communication and collaboration and at the moment we are finding that some people are quite intransigent."

He added: "The risk is if we can't get agreement we will be left behind and our residents will suffer."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer opened the door to regional devolution in his autumn budget speech, offering increased powers to areas which accepted governance by a directly elected mayor.