The Local Government Minister says a pathway's been made for councils to fast-track reform - because they're raring to go.  

The Government's announced councils have three months to submit rough merger plans, for becoming unitary authorities. 

In November it said it would abolish regional councillors, and reform local Government over a number of years, while encouraging district councils to merge.  

Simon Watts says councils have been so receptive, they've invited them to fast track it. 

"I don't want to set the pace of this reform by the slowest council - actually, the opposite, we want the ones that are ready to go to have a pathway to do that."

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• Councils given three months to submit proposals for most radical shake-up in decades