RUTLAND 2025 A Year of Defiance, Devolution, and Fond Farewells
By Our Local Democracy Reporter
As 2025 draws to a close, Rutland looks back on a year defined by an existential battle for its identity. From the corridors of Catmose to the historic streets of Uppingham, the "Smallest County" has spent the last twelve months proving it has the loudest voice.
The dominant headline of 2025 has been the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Under pressure from central government to form larger unitary authorities, Rutland County Council (RCC) found itself at a crossroads.
The #SaveRutland campaign, championed by MP Alicia Kearns and supported by over 7,000 signatories, became the heartbeat of local resistance. Protests peaked in March and April as residents fought to ensure that any move toward a "Greater Leicestershire" or "North Leicestershire and Rutland" model would not strip the county of its ceremonial status.
In a significant victory for local identity, the government confirmed in April that Rutland’s ceremonial status, Lord Lieutenant, and High Sheriff would be protected, regardless of the administrative outcome. However, the debate remains fierce; as of November, the Council has been weighing a "three-unitary" model against becoming a junior partner in a Leicester-led authority.
Uppingham Town Council made headlines this year with a bold letter to His Majesty King Charles III. In a move reflecting the town’s fierce independence, the Council reached out to the Crown to highlight the unique heritage of Rutland amidst the shifting sands of local government reform. This "Royal Petition" coincided with the successful July referendum on the Uppingham Neighbourhood Plan, which saw residents vote overwhelmingly to take control of their own planning future.
It has been a rocky year for local representation. Both Oakham and Uppingham Town Councils saw a string of resignations, with several long-standing members citing the "toxic" nature of modern local politics.
Protests have not been confined to the council chambers. The "Call for Sites" update in the summer sparked planning protests across the county, as villagers in Edith Weston and Ketton rallied against proposed large-scale developments. Meanwhile, the successful "People Power" campaign in Ryhall managed to stave off the immediate threat of library closure, though the future of rural service delivery remains a point of contention in the 2025/26 budget.
The governance crisis at Oakham Town Council escalated significantly this summer, prompting a rare intervention from Rutland County Council’s Monitoring Officer. Following a surge in formal complaints accounting for nearly half of all conduct allegations across the entire county a confidential report was commissioned to investigate "significant underlying issues" within the authority.
The report was published by local media, was discussed by the County’s standards committee in July, highlighted a "toxic" culture marked by interpersonal friction and a worrying reliance on informal "late-night WhatsApp communications" for official business. The Monitoring Officer noted that the Council’s high vacancy rate and the frequent co-option of unelected members had created an unstable environment. In an effort to steer the authority back to stability, senior county staff and the Monitoring Officer staged a series of "governance training" meetings with Oakham’s councillors and staff this autumn. These sessions aimed to enforce a formal code of conduct and clarify reporting lines, as the Monitoring Officer warned that the current state of affairs was placing an "excessive burden" on public resources.
Rutland County Council also experienced moments of turmoil.
The political climate in Rutland reached a boiling point in August 2025, when Council Leader Gale Waller (Lib Dem) faced a dramatic vote of no confidence. Orchestrated by a group of seven Conservative councillors led by Lucy Stephenson, the motion challenged Waller’s leadership, specifically citing her handling of the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and allegations of "rail-roading" through decisions without sufficient cross-party consultation. Despite the intense pressure and vocal criticism from local MP Alicia Kearns, Gale Waller survived the challenge with a 14-to-8 vote, subsequently pledging to "keep her door open" to bridge the widening partisan divide.
The tremors of instability continued within Oakham Town Council, with another year of poor audit reports . It was then rocked this month by the abrupt resignation of its Deputy Mayor Anna Douthwaite who described another member as a 'horrid little man"
The county paused this year to mourn the loss of two members of local civic life.
Alf Dewis: The former Mayor of Uppingham and Oakham Town Councillor passed away in March at the age of 80. Alf was remembered in a moving service at Oakham Parish Church. He leaves behind a legacy of dedicated public service that spanned decades.
Joyce Lucas: A former Mayor of Oakham and a fierce advocate for the town and counties heritage, Joyce’s passing marked the end of an era. Known for her "no-nonsense" approach and her deep love for Oakham and Rutland's history, she was a fixture of local democracy for over 40 years. Serving on both County and Town Councils.
Paul Buxton
The town of Oakham also mourns the loss of Councillor Paul Buxton, who passed away at the age of 80. Paul was a man of many hats a committed Town Councillor, a scientist by trade, and the meticulous Treasurer of Oakham in Bloom.
A true "eternal student," Paul was known for his insatiable curiosity, having spent his later years studying astronomy with the Open University. Beyond the ledger books of Oakham in Bloom, where he helped ensure the town remained one of the most beautiful in the East Midlands, he was a vital support for the Rutland Stroke Club. His colleagues remember him not just for his fiscal diligence, but for a quiet kindness and a relentless desire to learn and contribute to the town he called home since 2000.
Whether it was debating policy in the council chamber or supporting the floral displays that brighten our roundabouts, Paul’s steady hand and positive spirit left an indelible mark on the community.
Looking Ahead
Rutland may be small, but as 2025 has shown, its people are prepared to fight tooth and nail to ensure that "Much in Little" remains more than just a motto.
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