Government to review plan for single Leicestershire council and expanded city authority
The decision to create one super council for Leicestershire and Rutland and an expanded Leicester city authority is to be reconsidered by the government.
It was announced today (Monday) that Andy Burnham’s Labour administration will review its local government reorganisation (LGR) plans for 14 areas, including Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
The government is committed to streamlining the structure of local councils to make them more efficient and reduce duplication of services and personnel.
District authorities, including Melton Borough Council, are due to be abolished under the plans approved in July with the new set-up scheduled to begin from April 2028.
There is now doubt over whether that approved structure will still apply and it may be a case of going back to the drawing board.
MPs and councillors from across the political spectrum staged a protest outside the county council’s Glenfield HQ last month.
The expanded Leicester City Council would swallow up neighborough communities including Syston, Thurmaston and Queniborough.
On this week’s development, Dan Harrison, leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: “This is welcome news.
“The government’s flawed plan to expand Leicester risks swallowing up dozens of towns and villages and we are clear that residents do not want it.
“That’s why I announced last week that I wanted to seek urgent clarification from the Secretary of State.
"I’m pleased the government has heard our call.
“We stand firmly with our residents. I look forward to hearing more but let me be clear - we won’t be backing down.”
County Hall’s cabinet will consider the LGR issue at a meeting tomorrow (Tuesday).