Neath Port Talbot and Swansea councils agree merger talks

Two south Wales councils have agreed to start merger talks.

Neath Port Talbot councillors voted in favour of starting discussions with neighbouring Swansea at a meeting on Wednesday.

The proposed new local authority would be based on the Swansea Bay city region, taking in parts of Carmarthenshire and south west Powys.

Swansea councillors voted in favour of this proposed new authority at a meeting earlier in November.

However, the Welsh government has said that mergers should be based on existing council boundaries.

The two councils say if their preferred option is rejected, both will consider the merger on this basis.