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The County Council has requested the Government to postpone the elections planned for May this year until May 2026.
When the White Paper was published last December the Government said there were two scenarios in which they were willing to postpone elections: one is related to a priority programme for devolution and the second is related to areas where reorganisation of local government is needed to unlock or enable devolution. The County Council’s request has been made in respect of the second scenario.
The County Council has long regretted that it has not been possible for any devolution of powers, responsibilities and additional funding to Leicestershire since it was first asked to bid to the Government in 2021. There is now a new opportunity to bid for devolution on a Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland footprint.
Once a new structure of unitary local government has been agreed for the area the intention would be to have a mayoral combined authority. The Government have made clear that they wish to have all areas of England covered by a mayor and all two-tier local government reorganised by the end of this parliament.
The County Council, the City Council, the District Councils and Rutland Council are all in agreement that an extension of Leicester City’s boundaries is required in order for the City Council to be economically sustainable and to meet the Government’s requirements of housing growth. A request to the Government to delay the County Council elections does not require any proposals at this time in regard to reorganisation of local government but those proposals would have to be made by May 2025.
The County Council’s preferred proposal is for a unitary City Council with extended boundaries and a unitary council for the surrounding Leicestershire.
This is about reorganising local government. It offers an opportunity to save money, simplify a confusing system and protect front-line services and has been a goal for a number of years.
I want to be clear that this is a fresh bid in response to Government proposals and not a county council takeover. We are in regular contact with the City Council, Rutland Council, district councils, partners and staff to ensure they are aware of, and involved in, shaping plans and wait to hear from Government on next steps.
Person:Councillor Deborah Taylor, acting leader of Leicestershire County Council
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