A report into public service delivery in Wales which has recommended that Monmouthshire County Council should merge Newport City Council within the three to five years has been met with staunch opposition from the county's AM, who has vowed to fight 'tooth and nail' to save it.

The much anticipated Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery, led by Sir Paul Williams was asked in April 2012 to examine all aspects of governance and delivery in the devolved public sector in Wales and in his report following eight months of research, Sir Paul said, "We are very clear that public services in Wales face severe and prolonged challenges. The effect of the recession and austerity on public sector budgets will continue to be felt for many years....this creates several pressures - demand for public services while resources to provide them are falling."

Sir Paul concludes that the public sector in Wales is 'too complex,' says that report aims to make local government more effective and responsible and recommends 62 forms of action, with the possibility of finding savings of between £60 and £80 million within the next three years but with an initial cost of £100 million to the taxpayer.

As part of these recommendations, it has been noted that the 22 local authorities should be merged to create between 10 and 12 which would mean a loss of councillors, though no outline for how many councillors there should be has been given yet.

Monmouthshire County Council has acknowledged the effect that this report will have on the county, and has said it will work with any reform to the local authorities and public services.

A spokesman for MCC said, "We have now seen the report of the Williams Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery in Wales.

"The report is long and wide ranging and makes a number of recommendations that would have a major impact both on us an organisation and upon the communities that we serve.

"We will obviously co-operate fully with any reform to local public services in Wales and we believe that we have much to offer in creating better, more responsive services. "

Newport City Council has also confirmed its has received the report, and will be reviewing its findings before issuing a statement.

A spokesman said, "Having completed a review of the report, we will be in a position to issue a comment on the council's view of its findings at a later date."

Some Monmouthshire representatives however have expressed their concern at the merger plans, and the possible detrimental effect they will have on the county.

MP for Monmouth David Davies says he fears the reform will see Monmouth 'getting lost' in any merger with Newport and feels that the more rural county could lose resources if paired with a city.

Mr Davies said, "I am very concerned by the proposal to merge Monmouthshire and Newport. Newport and Monmouthshire are completely different places; Newport is a city, whereas Monmouthshire is a large rural area.

"My fear is that we will not see a merger, but see Monmouthshire swallowed up by Newport. The current council see the important of resources and services in such a rural area, and my fear is if it is swallowed up, the city could take away the resources and priorities that Monmouthshire currently has.

Local Assembly Member Nick Ramsay has also announced he will fight for the survival of Monmouthshire following the review of public services.

Mr Ramsay said, "I'm growing increasingly concerned by the possibility of Monmouthshire being wiped off the map in any local government shake-up.

"My constituents identify with Monmouthshire as their home and the Welsh Government should tread very carefully before interfering with this sense of identity.

"The history of local government in Wales tells us that reorganisation happens way too often, always costs money and never delivers the scale of savings to the public purse or public service improvements we are promised at the outset.

 "The Welsh Government should think long and hard about any potential reorganisation before committing money that could otherwise be spent on maintaining local services and keeping council tax rises to a minimum.

"Of course savings need to be made and local government needs to strive for greater efficiencies and more joint working.

"I will fight tooth and nail for Monmouthshire to be retained in a meaningful form," said Mr Ramsay

The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) Cymru, has also expressed fears that larger councils may weaken local democracy, and because of this has warned the Welsh Government not to rush implementation.

Steve Brooks, the Director of the Electoral Reform Society Cymru said "There's a real danger that in moving towards mergers, local democracy could suffer.  Larger councils could make voters feel more disconnected and less able to influence decisions which affect their everyday lives. 

"Evidence from Europe suggests that this can undermine the public's confidence in local government and its ability to respond to local needs.

"The Williams Commission rightly addresses these concerns, but in the push to re-organise it's important that the Welsh Government takes time to protect local, democratic engagement. 

"Plans should be brought forward to give neighbourhoods real power to make local decisions.  Welsh Minister should also revisit the 2002 Sunderland Commission report which recommended a fair voting system for local government.  

"Without voting reform, there's an added danger that these larger councils will become one-party states, which will only further compound councils' governance problems"

It is now down to the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, to look at the 62 recommendations put forward by Sir Williams to decide what will be implemented, with the report advising action be taken as early as Easter this year.

Mr Jones said, "People across Wales rely heavily on the vital services delivered by the public sector every day. Change is inevitable and essential so that our public services can become more efficient, effective, accessible and responsive.I will now take time to consider the report in detail and respond in due course."