Tim Adams, of North Norfolk District Council and Sam Chapman-Allen, of Breckland, fear people will be forced to pay significantly more following the reorganisation of councils.

The concerns come as district councils - which are to be abolished as part of the restructuring - have decided which options they support for the future of local government.

A County Hall report favoured a single unitary authority system as the most cost-efficient system.

However, all but one of the districts are backing three, except South Norfolk, which supports two.

Tim Adams, Liberal Democrat leader of North Norfolk District Council (Image: Cromer Town Council)

Mr Adams feared that whichever option went ahead, taxpayers would face bigger bills.

At a full council meeting, he said: "It is assumed it will cost about £20m to implement the changes but I am worried about the ongoing costs.

"From the bottom up, town and parish councils will be taking on more discretionary assets and more will form in King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth.

"I worry residents are in for a shock.

"We are doing this at the expense of real reform of public services."

The government's devolution plans would also see the........

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