Local councillors could be limited to 25 years in office under new Welsh Government plans.
Welsh Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews said Wales needed a return to councils with an “activist nature” with a responsibility to promote diversity.
Announcing a white paper outlining the Welsh Government’s response to the Williams Commission, which recommended a reduction in the number of councils, Mr Andrews said term limits would “break up the old boys’ club”.
The paper also announced fixed terms for councils of five years, with council leaders and cabinet members limited to two terms and other councillors to five.
The paper also proposes cutting the 22 Welsh councils to 12 and calls on employers to give employees unpaid leave to carry out duties as councillors.
Mr Andrews said: “We want all our councils to be activist councils, engaged in delivering modern, accessible, high quality public services with their communities.
“In this white paper, we set out the terms of a new deal for local government in Wales, one based on a smaller number of stronger councils, which will result in national government in Wales setting a small number of clear national priorities.
“This is about reform not reorganisation. It is about rebuilding councils from the inside out, rebuilding trust and confidence in local government and a new relationship between councils and the people they serve.
While welcoming diversity, Councillor Colin Mann, leader of the Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The proposals are an attempt to dictate to local authorities from the centre and I don’t believe it will work. Either you buy-in to local democracy or you don’t.”