Council leader responds to city council’s local government reorganisation proposals

Published: Thursday, 20 March 2025

Oadby & Wigston Borough Council Leader, Cllr Samia Haq, has issued a statement in response to the publication of Leicester City Council’s proposals for local government reorganisation.

Cllr Haq said: “Residents in our borough are proud of their identity and their place in the county of Leicestershire. They have always been very clear they do not wish to become part of the city.

“The city’s proposal is self-serving and sets out a plan that will create two authorities that are too large, remote and unaccountable to effectively deliver for our residents and our communities.

“Our interim proposal (drafted by the seven Leicestershire District and Borough Councils and Rutland County Council), which will be published tomorrow, has people and communities at its heart, seeks to keep the ‘local’ in local government, and puts forward balanced councils that are big enough to deliver and close enough to respond.

“I will fight to keep Oadby & Wigston in the county, where it belongs, and I am determined that voices in our borough and across Leicestershire are heard and help shape the future of local Government. It is clear that only our proposal is seeking to make that a reality."

Cllr Pip Allnatt, Leader of Melton Borough Council and speaking on behalf of the Leaders of the Leicestershire District and Borough Councils and Rutland County Council, also issued a statement in response to the publication of Leicester City Council’s proposals for local government reorganisation.

Cllr Allnatt said: “We have seen the proposal from Leicester City Council for future council structures and we will be reviewing it carefully.

“From our initial assessment, the proposed expanded city boundary is focussed purely on what works for the city and leaves an unbalanced county and Rutland doughnut surrounding it, with no sense of place and the challenges it would create operationally over its geography.

“It seems the options being presented by the county and city councils are focussed on serving their own interests, rather than those of their communities, whereas our proposal is the only one which is well balanced and offers a reset, refresh and reinvigoration of local government.

“We accept there will need to be further conversations about the city boundary but our interim plan is not proposing any boundary changes and we remain clear that the right response is for three balanced and broadly evenly-sized councils which will be big enough to deliver and close enough to respond.

“Our plans would also secure devolution, economic growth and significant savings. They have been built on a foundation of collaboration, evidence, and engagement.

“We look forward to publishing our full interim plan on 21 March and to continuing to develop it into a full proposal for November.”