In a statement released by Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Stamford, she has outlined six ways in which she hopes to protect Rutland in upcoming local government reorganisation negotiations. 

This comes as a result of the public meetings Kearns carried out, hoping these six tests will best represent the views of local people and create the best possible outcome for the county if they are forced to re-organise. 

The six tests put forward by Kearns are as follows: 

• 1. Ceremonial County Protected: Rutland must continue as a ceremonial county. The Government must provide legislative or legal assurances to protect Rutland's ceremonial county status.  
• 2. No Single Leicestershire Unitary: If Rutland's unitary council is scrapped by Government, or the Council continues to request re-organisation, Rutland must not join one supra-unitary covering the whole of Leicestershire. There should be at least two unitary councils covering Leicestershire and Rutland, i.e. Leicestershire East and Rutland or North Leicestershire and Rutland.  
• 3. Council Tax Equalisation: Rutland's Council Tax must be reduced down, and therefore equalised, to the same as all residents within any new County Council. 
• 4. Rutland Consequential: Fair Share: A mandate should be created in the constitution of any new County Council, or a formally agreed convention and mechanism, which calculates a fair allocation for Rutland of Government funds to ensure Rutland gets its fair share.  
• 5. Smaller Council Wards: Rutland currently has 27 County Councillors. Proposals for a single Leicestershire Unitary Council would reduce this number to just three. A two-unitary model (e.g Rutland and East Leicestershire or Rutland and North Leicestershire) would still see Rutland represented by only six Councillors. Any council re-organisation or devolution must ensure smaller council wards to ensure democratic accountability and keep democracy closer to communities.  
• 6. Rutland in the Name of the Council: As a Ceremonial County, and given our distinct identity, Rutland must be in the name of any new Council serving Rutlanders. 

Rutland County Council has to present their initial proposal by 21st March 2025. They are currently in discussions with Leicestershire County Council and Leicestershire District Councils and Kearns hopes these six tests will steer discussions to ensure the best possible outcome for Rutland. 

Last week, Alicia Kearns launched a #SaveRutland petition, urging the Government to protect Rutland's status as a ceremonial county regardless of the outcome of Local Government re organisation and devolution. Alicia will present the petition in person in Parliament at the end of March, following the 21st March deadline.

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READ MORE: Rutland MP launches petition to save Rutland name, asking residents to join her in protecting local identity

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