We have put together a full policy briefing on the paper for members.
The Minister of State for Local Government has formally invited Local Government to develop a proposal to move to a Unitary Authority.
This means that there will be a change in local councils covering Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and will remove the need for local District and Borough Councils. Local Government have been asked to submit a proposal for the new Unitary Authorities with the following being submitted for the City and County. These proposals were submitted to Central Government on Friday 21 March 2025.
English Devolution White Paper – GOV.UK
Leicester City Council
The proposal from Leicester City Council’s interim submission outlines plans to expand the City boundaries to meet the government threshold of a target population of 500,000 or more residents. The submission includes some parts of Charnwood, Harborough, Oadby and Wigston and Blaby Councils.
For more information regarding Leicester City Councils proposal please visit
Local government reorganisation and devolution
Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council are seeking to create one council for the whole of Leicestershire (excluding Leicester City and Rutland). This will mean local District and Borough Councils will no longer deliver local services.
For more information regarding Leicestershire County Council’s proposal please visit
One Council for Leicestershire | Leicestershire County Council
District and Borough Councils
The seven district and borough councils of Leicestershire and Rutland County Council have created a shared vision to split the County and Rutland into two councils for the North and South of Leicestershire.
- The areas currently served by Charnwood, North West Leicestershire and Melton district and borough councils, and Rutland County Council, would be served by one unitary authority (North Leicestershire and Rutland)
- The areas currently served by Blaby, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth and Oadby and Wigston district and borough councils would be served by another unitary authority (South Leicestershire)
- Leicester City would continue to be a unitary authority based on its existing boundaries.
The councils are now seeking views on the North, City, South plan and have launched an engagement exercise. It runs until 20 July 2025 and they are encouraging stakeholders and partners in the voluntary and community sector to have a say.
For more information regarding the District council’s proposal please visit: www.northcitysouth.co.uk
Benefits
Bringing together 8 councils it is anticipated that there will be multi £million savings every year due to a reduction in the salary bills of managers, chief executives and counsellors. The savings made can then be invested in front line services across the areas.