Plaid Cymru is set to reject the proposed council mergers in Wales in favour of regional combined authorities.
Party leader, Leanne Wood, will unveil a new model for local government reform tomorrow, recommending the development of regional government in Wales. The party is also expected to call for the integration of health and social care.
Under the proposals, up to seven combined regional authorities would deliver functions such as transport, economic development and planning, as well as other public such as health and social care.
Party of Wales leader, Leanne Wood, said: ‘Though the current 22 authorities will be retained for local delivery and accountability, in combination they will elect regional authorities to undertake those functions that demand a regional, integrated approach.
‘Accountability will be back to the 22 current local authorities and no additional councillors or officers will be needed. Indeed, better regional alignment should mean savings.
‘Instead of a plethora of consortia, boards and committees with different boundaries cutting across each other, there will be aligned regional authorities providing clarity of purpose and democratic accountability.’
