Leicester City Council's Reorganisation Plan Sparks Controversy, Including Rutland's Future, Councillor Gale Waller, Leader of Rutland County Council, has issued a statement expressing "serious concerns about the effectiveness and accessibility of a single unitary council covering the whole of Leicestershire."

Leicester City Council's Reorganisation Plan Sparks Controversy, Including Rutland's Future

Leicester City Council's interim proposals for local government reorganisation, set to be submitted on Friday, March 21st, have ignited a flurry of debate, particularly concerning the inclusion of Rutland within a proposed single unitary authority for Leicestershire. The plan, released by the council, outlines a significant reshaping of local governance across the city, Leicestershire, and Rutland, in response to the Government's call for councils to explore reorganisation.   

Central to the proposal is the creation of two unitary authorities: an expanded Leicester City Council and a larger unitary authority encompassing the remainder of Leicestershire and Rutland. This model, according to Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby, aims to address the city's "historic accident" of tightly constrained boundaries and deliver more cost-effective public services.   

Key Points of Leicester City Council's Proposal:

Boundary Expansion: The proposal includes a significant expansion of Leicester's boundaries, incorporating adjoining suburbs from Charnwood, Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, and Blaby councils. This expansion is deemed crucial for addressing housing needs and unlocking devolution.   

Unitary Authority Formation: The plan advocates for the creation of two unitary authorities, each meeting the Government's target population of 500,000 or more residents.

Devolution and Funding: Expansion is seen as a catalyst for devolution, enabling the transfer of greater powers and funding from central government to a new Mayoral Strategic Authority.

Housing and Development: The proposed reorganisation aims to accommodate the estimated future need for 32,000 new homes, including 18,000 affordable homes, and expand employment land.

Population growth: The plan projects that Leicester City councils population will grow from 372,000 to just over 600,000 by 2028.   

However, the inclusion of Rutland in the proposed Leicestershire unitary authority has drawn strong opposition from Rutland County Council. Councillor Gale Waller, Leader of Rutland County Council, has issued a statement expressing "serious concerns about the effectiveness and accessibility of a single unitary council covering the whole of Leicestershire."   

Rutland's Position:

Councillor Waller highlighted that Rutland is currently included in three different interim plan options, adding uncertainty to the future of Rutland's local goverment.

Rutland County Council will not support Rutland’s inclusion in a single Leicestershire unitary authority.   

Rutland County Council will conduct further detailed analysis and widespread public engagement around all the options that include Rutland, with plans for this engagement to begin in May.

The debate underscores the complexities of local government reorganisation, with concerns about local representation and the potential impact on service delivery.

Leicester City Council's proposal is an interim submission, with further consultation planned before a final submission in November. The Government will then determine which proposals to take forward and lead on formal consultation. The English Devolution White Paper's mandate to end two-tier councils adds further weight to the ongoing discussions. The future of local government in Leicestershire and Rutland remains uncertain, with significant public engagement and government decisions still to come.