Leaders detail proposed changes: District councils may vanish, replaced by a single county council. City/Rutland unaffected.
This plan differs from what leaders wanted before. In January, they wanted Leicester’s borders expanded, believing it would help Leicester City Council meet housing goals. Now, the county council opposes expanding city borders.
District and borough councils disagree with the county, preferring Leicestershire to be split into two new councils. The county council, however, only wants one council for the area.
Deborah Taylor, leader of Leicestershire County Council, believes one council is smarter and would save the most money. She said it would give residents the best results. A single council could save about £30 million each year, compared to £10 million with two councils.
Taylor thinks two councils would create unequal services that differ by location and splitting social care would not work well, particularly hurting children and adults.
Some worry one big council would feel distant; however, Taylor says they deliver services locally. She also mentioned new local area committees, including elected council members, and bigger roles for parish and town councils.
Taylor explained that the government turned down their request to delay local elections, which caused them to revert to their old plan from 2019. She did not know why their bid was rejected and wants residents to share their opinions, also saying she’s open to talks with other councils.
Peter Soulsby, Leicester City’s mayor, is disappointed by the county council’s change because he believed expanding borders would help the city’s finances and allow them to build more homes.
Soulsby said new city residents would fully join the city, receiving city council services, voting for city representatives, and paying their council taxes to Leicester city.
The city will submit its own proposal, and Soulsby thinks the government will review all ideas. He said the city faces injustice as its borders haven’t changed much since the early 1900s, wanting to correct this historical issue, and assuring that the city will keep talking to other councils.