Rutland County Council to Hold Special Cabinet Meeting on Final Reorganisation Proposal
Rutland County Council’s Cabinet is scheduled to hold a Special Meeting on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 2:00 pm in the Council Chamber at Catmose, Oakham. The meeting has been called to address a single, crucial item: making the final decision on the County’s proposed submission for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
This pivotal meeting comes just one week before the Government's final deadline of November 28, 2025, for all councils to submit their proposals for new unitary authority structures as part of the wider Devolution agenda.
LGR Decision Based on Public Engagement
The Cabinet will receive and consider Report No. 106/2025 from the Leader of the Council, which includes a summary of the extensive local engagement undertaken in recent months.
The public engagement findings, which were gathered through surveys and resident discussion groups, clearly outline Rutland residents' priorities for the future of local government:
Top Priorities for a New Council Structure
Financial Sustainability: Ensuring the new unitary authority is financially resilient.
Preservation of Rutland’s Identity: Maintaining the County’s distinct identity and ceremonial status.
Service Responsiveness: Prioritising the speed with which local services respond to requests.
Public Sentiment on Proposed Options
The engagement summary indicates that there is strongest support for the proposed North, City, South model. This plan, which was developed in collaboration with Leicestershire district and borough councils, would see Rutland form part of a three-unitary council structure covering the Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland area.
Crucially, the report notes that there was little to no support for a single Leicestershire unitary authority that would absorb Rutland. Many residents who voiced this concern specifically recalled the period prior to 1997 when Rutland was administered as a district of Leicestershire.
The Path Ahead
The Cabinet's decision will determine the final proposal submitted to the government, which could see Rutland align with:
North, City, South: Joining a new unitary council covering North Leicestershire and Rutland.
Greater Lincolnshire: Joining a unitary authority with North Kesteven, South Kesteven, and South Holland.
A Single Leicestershire Unitary: A proposal put forward by Leicester City Council that would expand the city boundaries and merge Rutland with the rest of Leicestershire.
Following the submission of the final plans, the government will decide which proposal—if any—to take forward and conduct any necessary statutory consultation.
You can view a recording a prior discussion on this matter in the
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