The MP for Rutland has warned the county could be forced into a 'mega council' as part of new government proposals. 

Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, who represents Rutland and Stamford, said in a statement that she fears new devolution proposals could see Rutland forced to join together with authorities beyond Leicestershire. 

Her statement is in response to a number of new proposals coming out from Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, which includes an overhaul of the funding arrangements for local councils and a move towards devolution of decision making down to new larger councils and mayors. An interim shakeup of local government funding for the coming financial year will see a rural services grant given to some councils scrapped and replaced with recovery funding for deprived areas. Last year Rutland received more than £1m from this funding pot. However, the government has said rural councils should see their funding overall increase by at least 5 per cent.  

Over the past decade, the austerity of the previous Conservative government has had a significant effect on local councils, with many, including neighbouring Northants going bust, and social care and children's care costs eating up huge sums of the budget. 

Mrs Kearns said: "I am gravely concerned about the impact of the new Government's diktats on Rutland. I have long worked to bring more fairness to local Government funding and secure recognition that delivering services in rural areas like ours is more expensive. I'm proud to have brought record additional funding to our communities over the last few years. 

 "However, Labour's new policy statement fails to acknowledge this, proposing worrying cuts for our rural communities. 

 "In particular, the abolishment of the Rural Services Delivery Grant (RSDG) will have a significant impact on the running costs of our daily services at a time where councils are facing financial pressures. 

 "I am also concerned Rutland will be forced to lose its independence and join a mega-council far beyond just joining Leicestershire and Rutland together. Not only would this take powers away from our communities, but it will deprive Rutlanders of local representation."  

"The Government needs to rethink this redesign and recognise the importance of supporting rural and poor social mobility areas like ours, so we receive the support and rural infrastructure investment we deserve." 

In September Rutland County Council leader Gale Waller (Lib Dem) said there was no current view from the council on devolution, although she said the authority had written to the government to say it was interested in discussions. 

But the devolution has not been discussed in the Rutland chamber since the government came to power in July. The authority is currently in a huge cost savings drive and already outsources a number of its key services such as housing and licensing to other neighbouring authorities.