Any two or more principal councils may jointly make an application (“a merger application”) to the Welsh Ministers, asking them to consider making merger regulations under section 124(1) merging their principal areas into a new principal area.

Section 101 of the 1972 Act (arrangements for discharge of functions by local authorities) does not apply to the function of making a merger application.

The function of making a merger application is not to be the responsibility of an executive of the principal council under executive arrangements.

An elected mayor is to be treated as a councillor of the principal council for the purposes of the function of making a merger application.

If, following receipt of a merger application, the Welsh Ministers decide not to make merger regulations under section 124(1), they must notify the principal councils that made the application.