TORFAEN chief Bob Wellington has declared it would be “unrealistic” to oppose council mergers as the local authority prepares to take the next step in amalgamating services with Blaenau Gwent.

Next week, Torfaen council will seek to progress voluntary merger proposals with Blaenau Gwent by asking councillors to agree to submit an “expression of interest” to the government.

Labour council leader, councillor Wellington has vowed to stay on the “front foot” as Welsh Government presses ahead with plans to half the number of local authorities in the country to save half a billion pounds.

In a report on the voluntary merger, Cllr Wellington said: “It is the clear view of myself as leader, cabinet colleagues and officers that structural reform will happen, either voluntarily or on a mandatory basis, and that it would be unrealistic for a council or our size to remain alone.

“Given that view, we feel it is preferable to remain on the front foot, constructively engaging with the issue rather than allowing reorganisation to happen to us without our input.

“There are clear benefits in merging voluntarily, such as the opportunity to shape and influence the emerging landscape and the potential of early adopters being able to access resources to ease the transition to a new organisation.”

Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent have previously held simultaneous meetings on the voluntary merger.

The Welsh Government plans to introduce a bill on the mergers in January with a view to establishing new local authorities in autumn 2017.

It was recommended by the Williams Commission that Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly merge.

But Torfaen's response indicated that - should reorganisation be necessary - a preferred position would see the local authority merge with Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.

Monmouthshire County Council said in October that it's councillors did not believe merging with neighbouring councils was in the best interest of the people of Monmouthshire or the wider region.

Torfaen councillors are to discuss the potential submission of an expression of interest at a full council meeting at Pontypool Civic Centre at 11.30am on Tuesday [November 25].