Government decision on city boundary expansion due

The government is set to announce this week whether Leicester's political boundary should expand to absorb surrounding towns and villages.

Currently, the county, city and neighbouring Rutland are served by 10 local authorities delivering a range of public services, including education, social care, highways, waste collection, planning, housing, and leisure.

However, ministers say they want to streamline local government across England by creating fewer, but larger councils with greater devolved powers.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has been considering three options for Leicestershire's future political map.

Labour-led Leicester City Council has suggested its border should move outwards in all directions into areas currently served by neighbouring districts or boroughs.

However, the proposed city expansion has proved controversial with Reform UK, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green politicians in the county who have argued the government is forcing unwanted and unnecessary upheaval on residents.

On Monday, Labour local government and housing minister Alison McGovern told MPs the shake-up would provide stronger councils able to make quicker decisions.

She said a decision would be announced this week before MPs leave parliament for their summer break.

The government has rejected calls for its proposals to be put to a local referendum before a final decision is made.

The government has been considering three rival proposals for future council structures, as Leicestershire County Council also submitted its vision for the future.

The county's districts and boroughs and Rutland County Council also lodged proposals for consideration, although it is possible ministers may choose a different structure to any of the submissions.

The city council proposes expanding its current border, which has not altered for more than 50 years.

Areas that would be absorbed by the expanded city include Great Glen, Oadby, Wigston, Blaby, Enderby, Braunstone Town, Glenfield, Anstey, Birstall and Syston.

Leicester currently has a population of about 372,000 but that would grow to 623,000 under the proposal.

The expansion would provide space for the city's estimated future housing need of 30,000 new homes by 2046, the council said.

The city council has also calculated the move would allow £46m of annual efficiency savings for councils across Leicestershire by reducing duplication of services, saving back office costs and allowing the money to be redirected to front-line services.

The rest of Leicestershire would fall under a single unitary authority serving rural areas and market towns.

Leicestershire County Council also believes there should be two unitary councils covering Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

However, it is opposed to losing any political territory to an expansion of the city council.

Reform UK-led County Hall said its preferred business case would preserve historic borders and create one large council around the city, serving some 800,000 residents.

The county council said its proposal would save £40m annually by reducing senior management and back office costs allowing more council tax to be put into services.

Having one large unitary council around the city also avoids splitting up and disrupting the work of existing social care departments, the council said.

The county council argued its model removes any confusion for residents about who delivers their public services.

Whatever the outcome, the county's district and borough councils are set to be abolished.

They, together with Rutland County Council, are proposing three unitary councils across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and their preferred option is called, North, City, South.

A North Leicestershire and Rutland council would serve the area currently covered by Charnwood borough, North West Leicestershire district, Melton borough and Rutland County Council.

A separate South Leicestershire council would cover the areas of Blaby district, Harborough district, Hinckley and Bosworth borough and Oadby and Wigston borough councils.

The district leaders said their plan would create three equally balanced councils, each serving about 400,000 people, delivering economic growth, and saving £44m in efficiencies.

Councillors will need to be elected to the new authorities.

These will be called "shadow elections" and are scheduled to take place in May 2027.

The new councils are due to be up and running by the beginning of April 2028.

Between the elections and the launch day there will be a transition period where services and staff will transfer to the new authorities while services continue to be provided by the existing local authorities.

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