Local authorities must not be sidelined when it comes to funding if plans for greater collaboration goes ahead, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)'s leader warned.

Last week local government secretary, Mark Drakeford, announced the details of a local government bill that would mandate all 22 Welsh councils to work together on economic development, strategic land use planning and strategic transport as part of three regions – North Wales, Central and South West Wales and South East Wales.