MPs and councillors stage protest against plans to transform local councils
MPs and councillors from across the political spectrum staged a protest today (Thursday) outside Leicestershire County Council’s HQ against major changes to local councils approved last month.
The government wants to streamline local government in a bid to release more funds for services and it has decided, following a public consultation, to create one super council to govern rural Leicestershire.
It will mean district councils across the county, including Melton Borough Council and Rutland County Council, will be abolished early in April 2028 in favour of the new unitary authority.
A decision has also been taken to significantly expand the boundaries of Leicester City Council so it swallows up neighbouring communities, including Syston, Thurmaston and Queniborough.
After the protest, which also involved residents, county councillors met and agreed to formally express concern at the changes and call on the government to go back to the drawing board and put together new plans for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
They’re also asking ministers to retain the current city boundary and ensure the residents of Leicestershire and Rutland have local government that reflects their local needs and interests.
In the meantime, council officers are continuing to work constructively with partners to help shape future arrangements and ensure services continue to be delivered for communities.
A motion agreed at the meeting ‘condemns’ the planned new local structure of local government and it says the decision to drag hundreds of thousands of Leicestershire County residents into Leicester City ‘overwhelmingly against their will, is an undemocratic disgrace’.
There were conflicting political opinions on the move to a single Leicestershire council, with Reform and Conservative groups supporting this but opposing the expanded city.
The Liberal Democrat group opposes the unitary Leicestershire authority on the grounds it would be too remote from many residents.
All councillors wanted the city boundaries to stay as they are, stressing that the public consultation findings which showed 88 per cent of respondents opposed an expansion should be respected.
The council resolved ‘that legal advice is being sought on the lawfulness and robustness of the government’s decision-making process in relation to local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and, subject to that advice, consider what further steps, including any available legal remedies, may be appropriate if reasonable grounds are identified for doing so’.