Ahead of the Special Rutland County Council meeting this evening where Conservative councillors hope to replace Lib Dem leader Councillor Gale Waller, local MP Alicia Kearns has published a statement regarding the motion of no confidence.

The statement published by Kearns supports the Conservative effort to change the authority's current leadership, claiming that residents are being 'rail-roaded' by the current leadership into a decision about Local Government Reorganisation.

In her statement discussing why the Tories have put forward their motion of no confidence, she said: 'because there is a democratic deficit at Rutland County Council - this is about residents having a say in our own future. We do not have any confidence in the approach taken on Local Government Reform, and we want a number of decisions made my the Liberal Democrats reversed or revisited - such as cuts to post-16 school transport.

'Residents should have had multiple options for Local Government Reform put to them. Instead, you have not been asked what future you want, and are being rail-roaded into one option.

'We do not want to force one particular option, we want all options investigated, multiple options put to residents in proper consultation, and then a vote of all Councillors.'

Andrew Dinsmore has been elected as the new Rutland County Councillor on 25th July (Photo: LDRS)

The timing of the motion of no-confidence has come as a surprise to many local people, with Cllr Andrew Dinsmore (Con) only being elected on 25th July, just four days before the seven Conservative councillors put forward the motion.

Answering the rhetorical question 'Why now?', Kearns said: 'because if we wait it will be too late. Now is the only opportunity to change the Council's approach on Local Government. Proposals are due with Government in November.

'Tonight's vote would just about put a new Council leadership in place so that in August work can be done by Officers to enable the Council to properly and meaningfully with residents across the month of September – a consultation where you're actually asked what future you want (stay as we are, join North Leicestershire, join Stamford or join an all-Leicestershire Council).

'Then a new Council would listen and assess those views early late September / October ready for to present Councillors with multiple options at an October Council meeting with a vote of all Councillors on the different options, and then the Council would submit a proposal in November. There is no other time to spare – as you can see even these timings would be tight.'

Click here to read the full statement by Kearns.