Government withdraws plans for city expansion

The government has withdrawn a controversial plan to expand Leicester's political boundary.

On Thursday, ministers said previous proposals to create a greater Leicester council, absorbing towns and villages currently outside the city, would be reassessed.

The proposal to abolish the 10 existing councils in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and replace them with two larger unitary authorities has been taken off the table at this stage.

Local government minister Jim McMahon told MPs a new proposal for the political map of Leicestershire would be announced either before Christmas or early in 2027.

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are among nine areas, including Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and Derby and Derbyshire, where decisions have now been withdrawn and will be reconsidered.

The government has revealed plans to go ahead in some areas, including East Sussex and Brighton, and Hove and Warwickshire.

McMahon said the government was still committed to the process of local government reorganisation (LGR) but that it had listened to local political leaders.

There have been numerous protests against the plan to expand Leicester by residents, who said they did not wish to be incorporated into an enlarged city.

Leicester city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "I'm very disappointed the government is continuing to delay the decision on local government reorganisation for our area.

"This uncertainty will make it very difficult for us to proceed with the work needed to create a mayoral strategic authority."

The government had been accused of ignoring the result of its own consultation on the changes, which showed 87% of some 6,600 responses opposed city expansion.

Reform UK-led Leicestershire County Council has opposed the city expansion, threatening a legal challenge against it, and leader Dan Harrison said Thursday's announcement was "a victory for people power".

"Our legal challenge to a city expansion was already under way, and I'd like to praise our residents who have fought against this for a long time," he said.

"It's true that reshaping local councils can offer huge benefits. I remain convinced that the proposal we submitted to government, simplifying services, saving £40m a year and empowering communities, offers the best solution for the future.

"But national decision-making has been shambolic at best. The government asked councils to draw up proposals, agreed them, paused them, backtracked and now says there'll be updates later this year.

"You couldn't make it up."

Christine Wise, Liberal Democrat leader of Rutland County Council, said: "We've been waiting for the government to provide an update on LGR for almost two months.

"When the pause was first announced, we pushed ministers to use this time to reconsider their options and give us more evidence to support the decision they announced in July - placing Rutland into one of only two unitary authorities covering the whole of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR).

"While it's encouraging that ministers are giving serious consideration to the concerns that have been raised, we will continue to push for the government to take an evidence-led approach to LGR. If LGR does go ahead, it must deliver financial sustainability, local accountability and better outcomes for communities."

Micheal Mullaney, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the county council, said: "I hope the government will now scrap this unwanted change entirely or at least that any new decision would be better than the last one.

"It has been a waste of time and money."

Conservative leader of Harborough District Council Simon Whelband added: "The government's handling of this process has been deeply frustrating. Ministers have created enormous uncertainty, failed to properly address local concerns and left councils and their hardworking staff in limbo for even longer.

"We will continue to fight Leicester's proposed land grab and make the strongest possible representations to ministers.

"I will not accept any areas of Harborough District being included in any form of expanded city as part of a unitary council.

"This must be a genuine rethink, not another exercise in kicking the can down the road before imposing a decision from Whitehall."

Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.