Issue - meetings

To seek approval of the local government reorganisation proposal for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Executive were presented with this report that outlined the work undertaken by the District and Borough Councils in Leicestershire and Rutland County Council to produce the draft final Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) proposal for (North,City,South) for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR). The report also detailed the public consultation that had been carried out and overall support for the proposal.

It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Bools and

                        RESOLVED –

(i)            That Executive give consideration to the comments made by the Scrutiny Commission and any recommendations of Council.

(ii)          That Executive approve the final draft Local Government Reorganisation Proposal for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, along with any comments they wish to make which will be considered prior to final submission to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHCLG) by the 28 November 2025.

(iii)         That Executive endorse the overwhelming view of the Council meeting held on 18.11.25 where members cross-party expressed strong views in opposition to the scrapping of Borough and District Councils.

(iv)         That Executive instruct the Leader and Chief Executive to continue to express opposition to the principle to the Local Government reorganisation.

(v)          That Executive note the strong record of delivery of HBBC and expressed thanks to all Members and officers over the years that have contributed to serving the people of the Borough.

(vi)         That Executive put on record its gratitude to all officers for the work done on the North/City South proposals for LGR and approved it’s submission as the Council’s preferred Bid should the Government not u-turn on its proposals.

(vii)        That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader for any final changes prior to submission.

To outline the proposal by the districts in Leicestershire and Rutland County Council in relation to local government reorganisation.

Council gave consideration to the draft local government reorganisation (LGR) proposal produced by the Leicestershire Districts and Rutland County Council. Members felt that there was no need for reorganisation of local government as the current system was successful in providing local services for local people, and it was the lack of government funding that was the issue. However, it was noted that change was being imposed by the government and the “North, City, South” proposal was the option that would best serve the residents of Hinckley and Bosworth, and across Leicestershire and Rutland more generally.

Members thanked officers for their work on the proposal and acknowledged the good collaborative working across several authorities to achieve such a comprehensive proposal.

It was moved by Councillor Bray and seconded by Councillor Bools that the report be endorsed.

Councillor Bray and a further seven members stood to request voting on the motion be recorded. The vote was taken as follows:

Councillors R Allen, Bools, Bray, Cartwright, Cook, M Crooks, W Crooks, Flemming, Gibbens, Glenville, Green, Hodgkins, Hollick, Lambert, Lynch, L Mullaney, M Mullaney, Pendlebury, Simmons, Smith, Stead-Davis, Walker and Williams voted FOR the motion (23);

Councillors Harris, Moore, O’Shea and Walker abstained from voting.

The motion was therefore declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED –

(i)            The final draft Local Government Reorganisation proposal for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland be endorsed and RECOMMENDED to the Executive;

(ii)          The Executive be RECOMMENDED to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader for any final changes to the proposal prior to submission.

To outline the proposal from the districts in Leicestershire and Rutland County Council in relation to local government reorganisation.

The Scrutiny Commission received a presentation on the draft local government reorganisation (LGR) proposal produced by the Leicestershire districts and Rutland County Council. The proposal recommended a three-unitary model which would build on positive work currently being undertaken in relation to partnership working, prevention and economic distinctiveness. The proposal would bring financial efficiencies and sustainability.

Members thanked officers for the work that had gone into the proposal and presentation and acknowledged the challenges in bringing the authorities together to create such a detailed piece of work. They were pleased to see the Strategic Mayoral Authority mentioned.

In response to members’ questions, the following points were noted:

·         The term of office of councillors appointed to the new authority would be four years

·         Some charges such as council tax and the green waste service may increase due to harmonisation and HBBC currently having one of the lowest charges for these

·         Future funding and the impact of achieving the predicted surplus on the funding level was unknown

·         Whilst some rationalisation of office space may be required, local hubs to facilitate public access to services would be necessary

·         Transformation and disaggregation costs had been modelled

·         The proposed councillor to elector ratio followed boundary commission guidance and was similar to other authorities that had been through LGR.

Concern was expressed about the potential for loss of officer knowledge, increases in some charges, and the lack of need for reorganisation. Members were supportive of the prevention model and that the proposal kept a closeness with communities and residents.

It was moved by Councillor Pendlebury, seconded by Councillor Crooks and

RESOLVED – the report be endorsed and comments be reported to Council and the Executive.