UKIP councillor for Sully Kevin Mahoney has said he would be "delighted" to see a reduction in councillors and councils in Wales, while attacking Minister Leighton Andrews' merger plans.

Last week, Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews revealed a draft bill further detailing plans to merge Wales' 22 local councils into eight or nine larger authorities, with the Vale being provisionally paired with Cardiff.

While the draft bill has been criticised by Vale of Glamorgan leader Neil Moore, Sully UKIP councillor Kevin Mahoney has agreed with the plans in principle but also launched a scathing attack on the "incompetents" behind them in a statement issued this week.

Cllr Mahoney said: "While we are all for a reduction in bureaucracy and fewer politicians, this is an arbitrary figure plucked from thin air by failed Minister Leighton Andrews, with absolutely no rationale behind the proposed mergers.

"There has been no comprehensive assessment of individual councils’ performance presented to anyone and the likelihood is that up to a quarter of a billion pounds will be squandered on redrawing boundaries and rebranding before any real savings are made, by which point, based on previous experience, there will no doubt be yet another restructuring.

"In a relatively short period of time I have lived in Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, Vale of Glamorgan and presumably soon Cardiff and the Vale, without moving a yard. The one and only conclusion that can be drawn from that is that the incompetents responsible haven’t a clue what they're doing.”

Drawing comparisons between the plans and the "catastrophic" reorganisation of the Welsh Health boards, Cllr Mahoney explained why he feels the plans are deceptive.

He said: "What is perhaps the most insulting to the voter is the idea that these proposals somehow enable streamlined devolution and better democracy when the proposals seek to strip away local representation while at the same time proposing the creation of up to 60 new AMs.

"It betrays an increasingly power-hungry, self-obsessed operation in Cardiff Bay who have long forgotten the people they are supposed to represent.

"Yes let's have fewer politicians and councils but let's see the detailed rationale and assessment for any proposed mergers rather than a vague wish list from a minister who was removed from duties in his previous position in Welsh government, and above all let local residents have the final say on reorganisation through the means of local referenda.”

Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews has maintained that the mergers represent an opportunity for Local Government to make huge savings of hundreds of millions of pounds, which can be used for front line public services, for investment in communities and to "support local economic prosperity".

Speaking about the plans recently he said: "We want to see councils which are vibrant, strong, flexible, open and transparent - councils with vision, great leadership and passion, working effectively with the public service workforce and their communities to improve services, improve lives and improve places."