The legislation establishing the commission set out its duties and powers: it was charged with "the duty of reviewing the organisation of local government" in Wales (including Monmouthshire) "and of making such proposals as are hereinafter authorised for effecting changes appearing... desirable in the interests of effective and convenient local government".
[2] Proposed changes to local government areas could be effected in five ways, used alone or in combination: The commission was appointed by royal warrant dated 5 January 1959, with a membership of five.
The remaining members were William Jones, Professor Charles Edward Gittins and Janet Morgan.
[8] The proposals set out in the report were not accepted by the government, and, following the establishment of an inter-departmental working group in 1965, a white paper was issued in 1967.
The local government system envisaged in the White Paper comprised: While the new areas were to be based on existing administrative counties, there were to be slight boundary changes: the largest being the readjustment of the Caernarvonshire/Denbighshire boundary between North East and North West Wales counties, the inclusion of the Edeyrnion area of Merionethshire in North East Wales, and much of southern Breconshire (or Brecknockshire) passing to Glamorgan.