Doing space relationally: Exploring the meaningful geographies of local government in Wales

► Current concerns with relational space suffer from a lack of empirical grounding. ► We examine how local government actors in Wales negotiated multiple spatial frames. ► Actors' definitions of 'patch' reflect personal/professional knowledge and interests. ► Resources and responsibilities tied to institutional configurations are prioritised. ► Accounts of relational space need to acknowledge lived relations of fixity and flow.