Councillor Gale Waller, Leader of Rutland County Council, has published a statement in response to Leicester City Council's interim proposal for local government reorganisation. 

In a proposal submitted today (Friday 21 March), Leicester City Council has outlined their ideas for how local government could be reorganised. 

The Council have proposed "the creation of an expanded city council alongside a second, new unitary authority covering the remaining area of Leicestershire and Rutland, both meeting the Government's target population of 500,000 or more residents. 

"Reorganising the ten existing local councils into two unitary authorities of comparable size would deliver more cost-effective public services, streamlined decision making and a path to financial sustainability. 

"To achieve this, the city council's interim submission outlines a sensible expansion to Leicester's boundary to include adjoining suburbs and space for future housing growth. This could include land currently within the boundaries of Charnwood, Harborough, Oadby and Wigston and Blaby councils." 

Rutland County Council is part of ongoing discussions about what the future of the county will be (Photo: Nub News)

The proposal includes a suggestion that a single unitary authority for Leicestershire could be an option. 

Cllr Waller outlined the three options included in LCC's proposal: Rutland is currently included in three different interim plan options:

• The option for a three unitary model covering the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area, which could see us form part of a new council structure serving North Leicestershire and Rutland 
• One of several options in the Greater Lincolnshire area interim plan, which could see us join with North Kesteven, South Kesteven and South Holland
• The option now being tabled by Leicester City Council, which could expand the city boundaries and include Rutland in a single Leicestershire unitary."

In response to these suggestions, Cllr Waller said: "We continue to have serious concerns about the effectiveness and accessibility of a single unitary council covering the whole of Leicestershire and will not support Rutland's inclusion in any such model. 

"After the 21 March deadline for submission of interim plans, Rutland County Council will out carry out further detailed analysis and widespread public engagement around all the options that include Rutland. We are planning for this engagement to begin in May and will reach as many people as possible." 

The whole of Leicester City Council's proposal can be read on their website.