Rutland's leadership will tell government it wants to create a new super council with its North Leicestershire neighbours after a final decision this afternoon. 

The county council's Liberal Democrat cabinet unanimously voted to choose the North, City, South model that its officers have been involved in drawing up since the spring. 

The seven-member cabinet dismissed the two other proposals which included Rutland that had been devised by Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council, with the deputy leader Cllr Andrew Johnson (Lib Dem) even declaring those proposals 'arrogant'. 

A proposal to join with councils in South Lincolnshire was not on the table after it was withdrawn last week. 

The local government shake up has been going on since last December and has been a bumpy ride for many with local fall outs and a leadership challenge seen off by leader Gale Waller (Lib Dem) in the summer. 

Her cabinet was given the final say when it met at 2pm this afternoon, less than 24 hours after it was debated at full council last night.  

Many lamented the situation and said they would rather the council stays as it is. 

Cabinet member for children's services Tim Smith (Lib Dem) said: "This is a decision none of us want to make.  

"As it has pointed out, we want to stay as we are and that came through quite strongly in the survey.  

"However, I don't think we have an option and what we want is the least, worst option and we don't want to put Rutland at risk by making no option." 

Cabinet member for transport Christine Wise (Lib Dem) said: "We don't deserve to be here. We run a tight ship, and we are an exemplar authority on many fronts and would wish to remain independent." 

She said she did wonder how 'little Rutland' would survive if it was to be put into a larger strategic authority, on top of the new authority. 

And there were jabs at other councils as well as digs at the council's Conservative members who choose to abstain from voting following last night's discussion. 

Seemingly referencing the Conservatives abstention, Cllr Johnson said he had attended last night's full council because he was interested in the idea that Rutland could remain as it was.  

But he said: "I think it is much better for us to be adult and express a preference than it is to throw the toys out the pram. 

"We can preserve Rutland as an entity, but it will be up to us to make sure that happens so neighbours in Rutland and the councillors that serve those areas need to make sure they help us preserve Rutland's identity." 

Rutland and Stamford MP Alicia Kearns (Con) is currently hoping to get a change in an existing law so that Rutland can remain as a ceremonial county with a Lord Lieutenant. 

The cabinet voted unanimously to back the proposal for the North, City, South bid. 

If adopted this would see Rutland join with its neighbours in Melton, North Leicestershire and Charnwood, another council created to cover Leicester city and a third to cover the south of Leicestershire. 

Leicestershire County Council's preference is for two councils, one covering Leicestershire and Rutland and the other covering the existing city boundary and Leicestershire City's bid is for two unitaries, one covering the existing area plus a big expansion to include Oadby and Market Harborough and the other for the rest of the Leicestershire and Rutland. 

The government will make the final decision and at the meeting Cllr Waller raised another issue, in that the other district councils that are likely to back the North Leicester council have yet to make final decisions and therefore 'there could well be adjustments'. 

She put in an amendment to the cabinet decision so that herself and the chief executive could make minor amendments if needed. 

The district council leaders who want to form the North Leicestershire council will meet on Wednesday ahead of submitting their final proposals to the government a week today – on Friday 28 November.