The decision comes after the Government received 18 proposals in August, aimed at simplifying local government and aligning council structures withthe new planning system.
Ministers Chris Bishop and Simon Watts said that while the overall quality of the proposals was high, none had unanimous support from the region and some required further analysis.
The Government will now focus on filling these gaps before making final decisions.
Cabinet is expected to consider the proposals in early 2027, with the aim of having Head Start changes in place before the 2028 local government elections.
The ministers also highlighted the need for fair and effective representation, streamlined governance, and the transfer and delivery of regional functions.
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