Devolution White Paper: Rutland's Future in the Balance, Thoughts from Gale Waller (Liberal Democrat) Leader of Rutland County Council

Devolution White Paper: Rutland's Future in the Balance

The future of Rutland's local government structure is a topic of much discussion, with many residents feeling their voices aren't being heard.  Gale Waller, a key figure in Rutland's local government, sheds light on the complexities of the situation and the limitations of local influence.   

The Devolution White Paper, a government document outlining plans for local government reorganisation across England, makes it clear that the final decision regarding Rutland's future rests not with local councillors or residents, but with Parliament and specifically, Minister Jim McMahon.  This centralised decision-making process means the fate of Rutland is ultimately decided at a national level.

While the Minister holds the power, he has invited Leicestershire County Council, the City of Leicester, and Rutland to submit proposals that align with the White Paper's vision.  The core requirement is the formation of a combined mayoral authority and unitary councils with a population of 500,000 or more.  Waller notes that the Minister has indicated a slight deviation from this population threshold might be considered, a point she raised along with leaders from Leicestershire County and Leicester City during a meeting with McMahon in January.   

The parameters for these proposals are detailed in the addendum to the Rutland Council meeting papers from February 11th.  This meeting served to formally endorse Waller's representation of Rutland in discussions with the other councils to formulate a joint proposal for the Minister.

Crucially, any options that emerge from these collaborative discussions will be subject to public consultation within Rutland, likely to take place in the summer. This offers a chance for residents to express their views on the proposed changes.

In the meantime, Waller suggests that residents who wish to influence the process should contact their Member of Parliament.  The aim is to encourage MPs to advocate for existing, well-functioning councils like Rutland to be exempt from the White Paper's requirements.  Given that Parliament and government ministers hold the ultimate decision-making power, lobbying at this level is seen as a potentially effective avenue for influencing Rutland's future.  Waller emphasises that the decisions will be made by Parliament and ministers, not by Rutland's councillors, leadership, or the general population.

Devolution White Paper: Thoughts from Gale Waller (Rutland Liberal Democrat Social Media Post:

Much has been written locally about the future of Rutland and how Rutland residents are not having a say in it. The Devolution White Paper makes clear that the decision does not lie with me, Rutland’s councillors, or Rutland’s population. The decision on the future of Rutland lies with Parliament and the Minister, Jim McMahon. The devolution white paper outlines the Government’s intent for the reorganisation of local government for England as a whole https://www.gov.uk/.../eng.../english-devolution-white-paper and the Minister will make the final decision on all local authorities, including Rutland. He has, however, offered the councils in Leicestershire (County and District), the City of Leicester and ourselves to put forward proposals to meet the White Paper’s requirements for a combined mayoral authority and unitary councils of 500k people or more (although I did get the Minister to agree we might go a little below this figure when I, along with the Leaders of both Leicestershire County Council and the City of Leicester were summoned to meet him in January). The parameters of the proposals we can put forward can be found in the addendum to the papers for Rutland’s Council meeting on 11 February. https://rutlandcounty.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments... That meeting is, essentially, endorsing the legal position that I represent Rutland in meetings with the leaders of the County Council, Leicester City and the 7 Leicestershire District Councils to try and agree a proposal to put to the Minister. Any options that emerge from these discussions will be subject, in Rutland at least, to public consultation. That is likely to be in the summer. Meanwhile you might wish to contact our MP to encourage her to work with her colleagues in Parliament to enable existing councils which are financially sound and offering good or better services (such as Rutland) to opt out of the white paper’s requirements as it is Parliament and the ministers who will make these decisions not Rutland’s councillors, leadership or population at large.