PEOPLE in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are being invited to have their say on the future of local government as part of a city council survey.
The Government intends to abolish the two-tier system of councils which still operates in many areas of England and replace them with larger, more efficient single-tier unitary authorities with sensible boundaries.
It has invited councils – including those in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland – to submit proposals for their areas.
The city council has today launched an online survey to ask local people what matters most to them to assist in developing its plans.
Three separate interim proposals were submitted earlier this year by the city, county and districts/Rutland and the councils have been carrying out further work to finalise their proposals.
Leicester City Council’s proposal suggested creating an expanded city council with a sensible expansion of boundaries to include the built-up city and its suburbs. A second single-tier authority would cover the county/Rutland rural areas and market towns which has a distinctly different character.
The proposal would result in balanced populations for the two local councils and achieve the Government’s guiding aim of 500,000 people or more in each new council area.
It would also help public services within the two proposed councils to be delivered more cost-effectively and efficiently, and provide the land needed for much-needed housing and jobs for local people.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “I am convinced that any realistic option for local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland must address the historic accident of our city’s boundaries.
“Unlike other cities, Leicester’s boundaries have not changed in over 100 years and no longer reflect the reality of the wider urban area and how people live their lives.
“An expanded city is key to unlocking devolution and boosting local economic growth, as well as delivering more efficient and cost-effective council services across the wider area.
“We have continued our discussions with the county, district and Rutland councils to see if we can agree a way forward.
“In the meantime, we want to invite local people to tell us what matters most to them as we continue to develop our proposals for Leicester.”
The city council’s survey will be open until Monday 6th October and is available online at https://consultations.leicester.gov.uk/planning/lgr
Feedback from the survey will be used in the development of the city council’s final proposal, which must be submitted to Government by 28 November 2025.
The Government will lead public consultation on all proposals and then make a final decision next year.
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