4.3 First, there is nothing in law which requires that authorities set up a Joint Committee. So each authority can arrange for informal discussions with the other authorities, but for each authority to continue to take its own decisions within its own areas. However, such models have greater potential for uncoordinated decisions by individual authorities.
4.4 In particular cases, authorities agree to appoint one authority as "lead authority", to act as agent for each of the other authorities, and delegate their functions to that lead authority, to exercise them across the combined area. This is explored in further detail below.