It seems the wheels are in motion for a single authority encompassing Barrow, South Lakeland and Lancaster.

As members of Barrow Council heard on Tuesday evening, the process is under way to amalgamate the three districts.

Those in favour of the Bay Area authority say the merger would streamline the way local government operates in the area.

It would also allow representatives from the three areas to work in harmony.

As yet there have been no indications of how many councillors could be lost in Barrow in the shake-up result, if it all.

Merging political power has become a fashion in local government these days and there are also mooted plans to combine district councils in the county into one single authority for Cumbria.

While potentially financially prudent in a time of belt-tightening for authorities, any forms of restructuring must put communities at their heart.

Council members in the area know the needs of local residents and they must remain as the cornerstones of a new authority.

Any cutting of overall members in a new authority must therefore be done with caution.

The same can be said for council officials, who will be best placed to respond to the needs of communities.