What could devolution mean for Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset Councils?
We're been getting more from the leader of one authority
Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire councils are looking to work together to take on more powers from the government.
The three councils are to submit a request for devolution, calling themselves the "Heart of Wessex".
Leader of Wiltshire Council, Richard Clewer says he's concerned that single county councils will struggle to get the attention of Government:
"If you add all the councils together, you're getting close to 2 million people, which is a meaningful size when it comes to getting Government to listen.
"We face the same issues around housing, social care, we've got the same sort of transport issues, so we've got a lot of synergies there that would make a lot of sense. But I don't expect devolution would take away from decisions at a local level."
Discussions have also included Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, as well as the Swindon Borough authority.
We're also told it wouldn't affect our council tax bills, but instead give each county more influence in decision making.
Wiltshire Council Leader, Richard Clewer, says the devolution does NOT mean a merger:
"All the councils would still exist and would run things their own way. But what we'd be looking at here is a combined authority where the leaders of all the councils would be on a committee to work out what the right sort of proposal solutions to put forward would be, in education, or transport or whatever the topics were.
"I don't think there'd be any need for additional funding."
None of the councils want a 'Wessex' mayor to be enlisted, against ideas currently being proposed by Government.