Leicestershire to be governed by one super council and Leicester's boundaries set to be expanded
Leicestershire is set to be governed by one super council and Leicester's boundaries will be expanded as part of a major reorganisation of local government - the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has learned.
Sources close to the government have confirmed that the city will be allowed to expand its boundaries into areas of Oadby, Wigston, Syston, Enderby, Great Glen, Braunstone Town, Blaby, Anstey and Glenfield - despite pushback from local MPs and council leaders.
It is also expected that the rest of Leicestershire, including Melton and Rutland, will be governed by a single authority.
This will also mean smaller borough and district councils across Leicestershire are set to be abolished, including Melton Borough Council
The county council previously expressed this year that it ‘strongly opposed’ the city border expansion, claiming it would require ‘complex boundary changes, greater cost, longer timescales and higher service risks’ – however, the expansion looks set to go ahead.
One senior source told the LDRS that they believed ‘riots would break out’ with council leaders being briefed about the news earlier this morning.
The government is expected to announce the news later today in a statement at around 12:30pm.
This means that the city's population will almost double under the plans and provide space for additional homes.
The leader of Leicestershire County Council Dan Harrison also said he was ‘furious, shocked and bitterly disappointed’ by the news which has come out today.
He said: "We’ve always been clear that an expanded city would be costly and disruptive.
"Financially and strategically, this is madness and it’s not the right decision for Leicestershire.
“This is a disastrous day for democracy.
"No one wanted this.
"No professional oversight has been given to the effect on Leicestershire residents of the city’s land grab and our residents haven’t been listened to.
“We’ll be taking legal advice on launching a challenge to government to make sure residents are at the heart of the decision.
“Our professional officers will get on with the job.
"But this is reckless and we’ll continue to fight for those residents who’ve been let down by the government today.”