There are a number of collaborations between Pembrokeshire County Council and neighbouring authorities already in existence - with future opportunities to be considered, a meeting at County Hall heard on Monday.

Council leader Clr. David Simpson told cabinet members that he sat on a number of boards that worked collaboratively such as the Swansea Bay City Deal and ERW (Educational Regional Workforce).

He was responding to a notice of motion put forward by Tenby councillor Michael Williams that: “Immediate negotiations are commenced with Ceredigion and Sir Gar with the intention of appointing chief officers, directors, and heads of service to service the three authorities as and when circumstances allow. For clarification, there would be for example one CEO, and one officer for each directorate or service between the three authorities.

“This would give a clear indication to Welsh Government that the three LAs are actively collaborating, sharing services and resources, and achieve considerable revenue savings.”

Clr. Simpson added that collaboration work was carried out in social services and procurement as well as regional waste management.

The collaboration and sharing of ideas existed already and did not require a formal mandate.

Welsh Government proposals to cut the number of local authorities was not supported by the Welsh Local Government Association, added Clr. Simpson.

Cabinet voted in favour of a recommendation that the notice not be adopted when they met on Monday.

In support of his proposal, Clr. Williams stated, in his personal opinion: “I cannot see how the present level of management can be sustainable when this happens across all three authorities, and I believe that we should be examining all possible ways of reducing these costs.

“It is ludicrous that we have 22 authorities in Wales all employing such an expensive level of management. Frankly there is no need for more than 10 to 12 LAs in Wales. We must have the courage to advocate this change.”