“This County Council condemns the government’s proposal for local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Their proposal to drag 100,000s of county residents into Leicester City, overwhelmingly against their will, is an undemocratic disgrace.
Council
notes that the Liberal Democrat group opposes the government’s proposal to put
the rest of Leicestershire and Rutland into one Unitary authority, believing
such an authority will be too remote from many residents.
We call on
the government and the new Prime Minister to go back to the drawing board and
put together new plans for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Plans which
will keep the city boundary the same as it currently is and ensure the
residents of Leicestershire and Rutland have local government that can reflect
their local needs and interests.”
(A requisition for an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council for the purpose of considering this motion was put forward by the following members of the Council in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12, paragraph 3:
Mr M Mullaney CC
Mr S Bray CC
Ms A Pendlebury CC
Mr M Bools CC
Dr S Hill CC
Mr S Galton CC
Mrs L Broadley CC
Mr D Gamble CC
Mr M Durrani CC
Mr B Walker CC
Mr N Holt CC.)
Minutes:
With the consent of
the Council, Mr Mullaney moved the following altered motion, seconded by Mr
Bray:
“1. This County Council condemns the
government’s proposal for Local Government reorganisation in Leicester,
Leicestershire and Rutland.
2.
Their
proposal to drag 100,000s of Leicestershire County residents into Leicester
City, overwhelmingly against their will, is an undemocratic disgrace.
3.
This
Council notes that the Liberal Democrat group opposes the government’s proposal
to put the rest of Leicestershire and Rutland into one Unitary authority,
believing such an authority will be too remote from many residents.
4.
Public
consultation on the proposals demonstrated significant opposition to the
expansion of Leicester City's boundaries, with 88% of respondents opposing such
expansion.
5.
Any
future local government structure must deliver effective public services,
strong local representation, value for money and long-term financial
sustainability.
6.
This
Council believes that:
(a) Leicester City's existing boundaries should
be retained and that communities should not be transferred into Leicester City
against their wishes.
(b) The results of public consultation should be
properly respected and reflected in any future proposals.
(c) Decisions on the future structure of local
government in Leicestershire should be based on evidence, sustainability,
service effectiveness, and democratic accountability.
(d) The Government's decision-making process should
be transparent, evidence-based, and capable of withstanding public scrutiny.
Where decisions appear inconsistent with the evidence submitted or fail to
reflect the outcome of public consultation adequately, it is appropriate for
the Council to consider all available legal remedies including judicial review.
7.
This
Council therefore resolves to:
(a) Note that legal advice is being sought on the
lawfulness and robustness of the Government’s decision-making process in relation
to local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
and, subject to that advice, consider what further steps, including any
available legal remedies, may be appropriate if reasonable grounds are
identified for doing so.
(b) Call
on the Government to safeguard local democracy by confirming that, should the
timetable for this reorganisation slip beyond 1 April 2028, the scheduled May
2027 elections for the district and borough councils, Leicester City Council, the
City Mayor and Rutland Council will proceed as soon as is possible, in order to
maintain democratic accountability across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
during any extended transition period.
(c) Call on the government and the new Prime
Minister to go back to the drawing board and put together new plans for
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Plans which will keep the city boundary
the same as it currently is and ensure the residents of Leicestershire and Rutland
have local government that can reflect their local needs and interests.”
[With the consent
of the Council, the meeting adjourned from 3.30pm – 4.20pm.]
With the concurrence
of Mr Smith, her seconder, and the consent of the Council, Mrs Taylor withdrew
a proposed amendment to the motion.
In accordance with Standing Order 16, and with the consent of the Council, Mr Mullaney proposed and Mr Bray seconded the following alteration to paragraph 3 of the motion:
“3. This Council notes that the Liberal Democrat group opposes the Government’s proposal to put the rest of Leicestershire and Rutland into one Unitary authority, believing such an authority will be too remote from many residents. They also oppose City expansion. This Council also notes that the Reform and Conservative groups support a one Leicestershire Council with no expansion of the City.”
On the altered motion, including the revised paragraph 3, being put and before the vote was taken, five members rose asking that a named vote be recorded.
The vote was recorded as follows:
For the motion
Mr Abbott, Dr Bloxham, Mr Boam, Mr Bools, Mrs Bottomley, Mr Bradshaw, Mr Bray, Mrs Broadley, Mr Chapman, Mr Charlesworth, Mr Cooke, Mr Crook, Mrs Danks, Mr Durrani, Mr England, Mr Fowler, Mr Galton, Mr Gamble, Mr Grimley, Mr Hamilton-Gray, Mr D Harrison, Mr P Harrison, Dr Hill, Mr Innes, Mr King, Mr Lovegrove, Mr McDonald, Mr Melen, Mr Morris, Mr Mullaney, Dr North, Mr Orson, Mr Page, Mrs Page, Ms Pendlebury, Mr Piper, Mr Poland, Mr Pugsley, Mr Robinson, Mrs Seaton, Mr Smith, Mr Squires, Mr Tilbury, Mr Walker, Mr Whitford
Against the motion
Mr Miah
The altered motion, including the revised paragraph 3, was carried, with 45 members voting for the motion and 1 member voting against. There were no abstentions.