TORFAEN and Blaenau Gwent have taken a step towards merging their councils.

Cabinet members from both councils met simultaneously yesterday to discuss ‘opening talks’ on a voluntary merger.

They agreed unanimously – but before talks can take place, the full councils will need to have their say.

The Welsh Government wants to reduce the number of councils in Wales from 22 to between ten and 12 to cut costs.

Councils have been told that if they don’t sign up to the plan they are likely to be forced to merge anyway.

The government commissioned Williams Report suggests Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen could merge with Caerphilly while Newport could merge with Monmouthshire.

But Newport and Caerphilly have already turned down that idea.

At Blaenau Gwent’s meeting council leader Hedley McCarthy said that entering talks would be “proactive in shaping the future” of local government in Wales and would help to transform services that will benefit the community.

At their meeting in Ebbw Vale, cabinet members agreed to consult on a potential merger.

The meetings come after Torfaen’s previous response to the Williams Commission which outlined that should a reorganisation be necessary, a preferred position would see Torfaen merge with Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.

Chief executive of Torfaen Council Alison Ward said: “We are not a small organisation, obviously, but in terms of local authorities within Wales we are small and therefore the financial austerity we are now facing has a much bigger impact on us.

“Reorganisation is not a silver bullet. It won’t solve our financial problems.

“But if we don’t do this, how are we going to sustain our authority beyond the next couple of years?

“I have to say there isn’t a lot of clarity around the vision from the Welsh Government so I think it’s for us to shape what our vision might be for a joint authority.”

Torfaen Cllr David Yeowell said: “We have nothing to lose by entering talks with Blaenau Gwent.

“We will be amalgamated with one or another [council] at the end of the process whether we like it or not.

“I would prefer to be in a position where we have some control and autonomy moving forward.”

Torfaen Cllr Gwyneira Clarke added: “We here at Torfaen have never been shy of leading the way.

“We are a small authority and we can’t go it alone.”

The Welsh Government seeks expressions of interest on council mergers by November 28 with full business cases sought by June next year.