Eight councils across Leicestershire and Rutland have united behind a bold proposal to reshape local government, submitting the North, City, South plan to the Government as part of its devolution agenda.
The plan, backed by all seven Leicestershire district and borough councils and Rutland County Council, proposes replacing the current 10 councils with three strong unitary authorities serving around 400,000 residents each:
- North Leicestershire and Rutland
- South Leicestershire
- Leicester City
Developed following extensive engagement with communities, partners and businesses – with around 10,000 responses – the proposal has strong public support and meets all Government criteria for reform.
The North, City, South plan aims to:
- Deliver devolution at pace, with a Mayoral election in 2027
- Accelerate economic growth and investment
- Provide prevention-focused services to improve lives and reduce demand
- Achieve £44 million annual savings
- Retain Leicester’s current city boundary and Rutland’s ceremonial status
- Ensure councils remain connected to communities and financially sustainable
Speaking on behalf of the Leaders of the councils, Melton Borough Council Leader Cllr Pip Allnatt said:
“The North, City, South proposal represents a united vision from eight councils, cutting across political boundaries to put communities first.
“North, City, South is about creating strong, sustainable councils that can deliver better services, unlock investment, and accelerate growth.
“We’ve listened to residents, businesses, and partners, and their feedback has shaped this plan.
“It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to move from reacting to problems to preventing them helping people earlier and improving lives.
“Local government isn’t broken, but Government has made it clear that change is needed.
"This plan offers a clear, credible direction for Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland for decades to come.”
The business case confirms that Leicester City Council is financially stable without boundary changes, thanks to funding reforms and a stronger focus on prevention. The two new authorities would also be financially robust.
The plan emphasises neighbourhood partnerships, enabling councils to work closely with the NHS, police and voluntary sector to deliver early help and reduce pressure on services.
Alternative proposals are expected from Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council, including options for two unitary councils or expanding Leicester’s boundary. However, North, City, South councils argue that a single authority for Leicestershire and Rutland would be too large and remote, and boundary changes would be complex, costly and unpopular.
The government will review all proposals and is expected to launch a public consultation in the new year.
Image credit: iStock
