The Government has made it clear it wants to move away from ‘two tier’ local government, so plans were drawn up under the previous administration to create one council for Leicestershire (excluding Rutland and Leicester City), forging stronger links with communities, reducing duplication and simplifying local government.
The council’s policy
At its meeting on 2 July 2025, County Council considered the proposals from the district councils and Rutland which included a north/south split of the county. The Council believes that if implemented it would lead to a significant risk to the stability of countywide services, particularly social care. It would also increase costs, duplication and reduce economies of scale for services like highways, waste disposal and social care.
The County Council is having constructive discussions with the City Council and there is joint agreement that the best option for Leicester and Leicestershire is a two unitary model, one City, one County, that both authorities must be financially sustainable with the capacity to enable strategic land use planning across City and County, providing the optimum structure for devolution of powers, responsibilities and funding.
Benefits
Bringing together the County Council and 7 district councils into one single body would:
- Save money - through fewer managers, chief executives and councillors.
- Enable savings - to be reinvested in front line services
- Make it easier to get support - by giving residents clear and simple access to all services, whether by phone, online, or through local area committees.
- Future-proof services – protecting the support residents depend on at a time when local government is facing spiralling costs.
- Improve support for vulnerable people – by joining up health, social care and housing services.
- Give communities a stronger voice – local area committees would have greater influence over decision-making.
- Boost accountability – reducing confusion over who is responsible for what.
Timescales
Initial proposals were submitted on 21 March 2025.
Feedback was received from the Government on 3 June – read the feedback letter:
Final proposals will be worked up and submitted by end November 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is Local Government reorganisation?
In December 2024, the Government published the English Devolution White Paper. This made it clear that the Government wants to move away from ‘two tier’ local government, like Leicestershire, and expects all county councils, district councils and neighbouring unitary councils (in this case, Leicester City and Rutland) to work up proposals for change.
Reorganisation needs to be agreed before there can be agreed devolution of powers and responsibilities to Leicestershire, (Leicester and Rutland) from the Government.
What benefits could it bring?
This is an opportunity to improve services for our residents, save money, simplify a confusing system and protect front-line services - and has been a goal for a number of years.
This is the right time for change. It could unlock devolved powers and funding - giving us more money to fix roads and other services our residents value, plus new powers to coordinate planning and join-up transport.
Has this been tried before?
Reorganisation has been talked about in the past. In 2019 a business case was developed to show how much money could be saved from having one unitary council for Leicestershire.
It is well known that Leicestershire has been frustrated in trying to achieve any devolution of powers and responsibilities.
Is it a takeover of the district councils?
It’s not a takeover by the County Council of district councils – it’s about establishing a new unitary structure and is what the Government is asking us to do.
How does having one council save money?
By reducing senior management, support staff, councillors and elections. You also save money by having single services. For example, at the moment, in the county we have seven different waste collection systems with a different council then having to dispose of the waste.
I live miles from County Hall – wouldn’t one council be more remote?
No – we already provide services in local areas 24/7, including social care in people’s homes, and you can’t get more local than that. Having one council doesn’t change where services are delivered from. More decisions would be delegated to local areas.
What about Rutland?
The final proposal in November will have to include Rutland. However, it is known that Rutland is looking at different options, including joining part of Lincolnshire.
When will this happen?
We will submit final proposals in November 2025. The government wants new councils to be in place by 2028.
How can I keep in touch with updates?
You can register for regular updates from the council.
Glossary of terms
English Devolution White Paper
White papers are policy documents produced by the Government that set out their proposals for future laws.
'Two tier’ local government
In some areas, there are two levels of councils: county and district. This is known as ‘two-tier local government’. There are 21 such areas left in England.
In these areas, the county is responsible for things like ensuring there are enough schools, adult social care, disposal of waste, and looking after roads. But there is a different council, serving a smaller geographical area, responsible for things like collecting rubbish, cleaning streets, local parks, housing, and benefits.
Unitary council
In a unitary area there is just one council responsible for all services. Usually, cities are unitary, but recently several counties have become unitary, e.g., Cornwall, North Yorkshire, Durham and Buckinghamshire.
Devolution / devolved powers
Devolution means taking powers away from central government and giving it to more local areas.
The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, the Northern Ireland Assembly are examples of devolved powers.
Powers have also been given to more local areas like Greater London, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands. This gives that area a bigger say in what happens and more spending power.