The Leaders of the seven district and borough councils in Leicestershire and Rutland County Council have set out their response following a meeting with the County and City Councils on the 6 March.
The Leaders said in a joint statement “It was good to get everyone round the table yesterday to discuss what will be the biggest change in local government for 50 years.
We don’t believe the current system is broken, but the approach of the district and borough councils has always been to work collaboratively for the good of our community, and this will continue. Our focus right now is to establish how best we unlock the benefits of devolution, whilst also ensuring the best way of structuring local government in the area. It is on this latter point where we disagree, and think the idea of one massive council providing all services for the whole of the county is fundamentally flawed, leading to two imbalanced Councils in Leicestershire, and would also fail to realise the benefits of devolution for years to come.
Working as a group of 8 councils, with experience of all council services, we collectively have a very good understanding of what our communities need – whether that’s social care, roads, housing, bin collections or leisure – and we believe that three well-balanced councils providing these services is the best solution.
We’ve requested further meetings with the County and City Councils and will look to reconvene once we receive feedback from government on our interim plans. We will continue to engage with our residents and stakeholders on this important matter so as to ensure that before the November deadline we come up with the best possible proposal for Government to consider.”
For more information, visit one of the district council or Rutland County Council websites.
Council Leaders meet Minister to discuss local government reform
The Leaders of Leicestershire’s District and Borough Councils, together with the Leader of Rutland County Council, met Baroness Sharon Taylor, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government on Tuesday, 11 March 2025.
The meeting was requested by the District Councils to discuss the approach being taken in Leicestershire and Rutland regarding devolution and local government reform.
The Leaders provided the Minister and civil servants with an update on their current thinking and interim plans due to be submitted to Government later this month.
Speaking afterwards on behalf of the Leaders, Councillor Pip Allnatt, Leader at Melton Borough Council, said: “We were all delighted to have the opportunity to meet with the Minister and explain our current thinking prior to submitting our joint interim plan for local government reform and devolution on 21 March.
“We also discussed the initial engagement we have carried out and our plans for full and wider engagement with the public prior to submitting our joint final proposal in November.
“It was an extremely helpful meeting and we were all encouraged to hear that our general ideas for unlocking devolution and establishing a new regional strategic authority, supported by three local unitary Councils, represented a serious and credible proposition, and that we are on the right track in how we are approaching the response to the White Paper.
“We are all extremely positive about the next steps and are clear that it is up to us to make the case, backed up by data and evidence, and demonstrate strong local support, as well as the way our proposals will drive economic growth.
“Preserving local identity is central to our approach, and so it was also helpful to receive a commitment to further explore how we can retain Rutland’s ceremonial status as part of any change. We look forward to continuing the discussions and building our proposals over the coming months.”
Bold vision for future of local council structures submitted to Government
A bold vision which puts people and places at the heart of future council structures in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has been submitted to Government today (Friday 21 March 2025).
The seven district and borough councils of Leicestershire and Rutland County Council have worked closely together to create the shared vision which is built on a foundation of collaboration, evidence and engagement.
The plan is in response to the Government’s request to the area to submit interim proposals to reduce the number of councils and replace them with new unitary authorities. It is part of its devolution agenda.
The plan is entitled North, City, South: The Natural Choice – Big Enough to Deliver, Close Enough to Respond.
It has been developed by the partnership of councils and proposes three equally-sized unitary councils to deliver all council services. One would serve North Leicestershire and Rutland, and one would serve South Leicestershire. They would work alongside Leicester City Council.
The district councils and Rutland County Council say their interim proposal will:
• Keep councils connected and accountable to local communities
• Simplify services for residents, businesses, and partners
• Protect and support the vulnerable and focus on prevention
• Deliver devolution and economic growth
• Boost efficiency, saving nearly £43 million a year
The Leaders of the district councils and Rutland County Council said in a joint statement: “The eight councils involved in developing this interim plan have collaborated to an unprecedented level and sought input from communities and a wide range of stakeholders.
“The evidence, data and engagement carried out so far has made it clear that the proposal we make to government delivers on all fronts. It meets the government’s criteria for devolution and local government reorganisation and secures the best deal for our communities.
“Three well-balanced, equally-sized councils can retain community connection and accountability, simplify services, protect and support the most vulnerable and deliver devolution which is critical to boost the local economy. It also sets out a greater focus on prevention and helping people live healthier and more independent lives.
“Our interim plan will also deliver savings, but it very much puts people and place at the heart of future local government structures.
“We are clear this is an interim plan and further engagement is needed with government, stakeholders and communities before final proposals are made in November. We will continue to gather the evidence and carry out more in-depth engagement in the coming months. All voices must be heard.
“While we do not think the current system is broken, we very much recognise the Government’s intent on change and therefore we need to deliver.
“We are also still of the view that Leicestershire County Council’s idea for one single unitary authority for Leicestershire would be too big, too cumbersome and too remote for local communities.
“We would like to thank the more than 4,600 people and organisations who submitted their views during an initial piece of engagement work. Much more engagement will follow. This is the biggest shake-up of local government in 50 years, and we are working hard to get this right for all communities.”
The interim plan from the district and borough councils and Rutland County Council has been published on the councils’ websites today.
The document plan says the North, City, South option offers a much better-balanced council structure with three councils of around 400,000 residents when compared to the county council’s proposal for one single unitary for Leicestershire of around 800,000 residents.
The plan outlines:
• The areas currently served by Charnwood, North West Leicestershire and Melton district and borough councils, and Rutland County Council, would be served by one unitary authority (North Leicestershire and Rutland)
• The areas currently served by Blaby, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth and Oadby & Wigston district and borough councils would be served by another unitary authority (South Leicestershire)
• Leicester City would continue to be a unitary authority based on its existing boundaries
The interim plan outlines how the balanced geographies for the new councils would ensure they can retain connection and accountability to local communities.
Grassroots democracy would be enhanced, and subject to local views, opportunities would be explored to create town or parish councils in key settlements.
Neighbourhood working would be strengthened through empowered elected members, area-based teams and vibrant community partnerships, and the approach would preserve local identity and civic pride. The importance of preserving Rutland County’s historic ceremonial county status is fully recognised.
Services would be simplified by councils across sensible geographies being delivered by one authority.
The plan sets out a greater focus on prevention and working with all partners to help people live healthier and more independent lives by ensuring they have access to the support services they need.
The plan supports economic growth by as the North, City, South model best fits the Government’s devolution agenda which will help unlock the region’s economic potential, delivering millions of pounds of public and private sector investment.
Savings would be delivered through factors including the reduced number of senior managers and councillors and economies of scale in procurement and commissioning.
The interim plan concludes: “Our plan is not just a roadmap but a commitment to building vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous communities. By aligning our efforts and embracing innovative approaches, we will create a dynamic environment where every resident can thrive.
“Our new governance structures will empower local voices, foster economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for all. With a focus on preventive services, community engagement, and sustainable development, we are poised to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.
“Together, we will shape a future that reflects the aspirations and needs of our diverse communities.”