CO-ORDINATION and co-operation are set to become the defining words for the foreseeable future in Wales.

If the National Assembly government gets its way councillors and officers, currently on different councils and often competing with each other for inward investment and the like, will soon be working together in bigger local authorities.

Cities such as Cardiff and Newport with a long history of competition and it could be said competing interests, could become part of the same city region with power devolved from the UK government.

Even Bristol, Cardiff and Newport are already looking at closer working to help attract big infrastructure developments.

So It does seems as if the old order of smaller groups fighting for a small, focused area could be on the way out.

Of course there are pluses and minuses on both sides and if nothing else there willare set to be some major debates about the sweepingfundamental changes over the next few years.

But it is interesting that in Newport the spirit of co-operation does seem to be taking off in a big way.

ReNewport brought together strands from the Assembly, local government and , just as importantly, the business community, to set out some ambitious ideas for Newport’s future economy.

Now the Newport Economic Network in the city has met for the first time with the aim of making sure the recommendations from that task force become reality.

This body includes people from all walks of life in the city but who each have a role to play in its success.

And that, in our view, is the right way forward.