Interim plans
Rutland is currently included in three different interim plan options being submitted to the government on 21 March 2025:
- an option for a three-unitary model covering the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area, which could see us form part of a new council structure serving North Leicestershire and Rutland
- one of several options in the Greater Lincolnshire area interim plan, which could see us join with North Kesteven, South Kesteven and South Holland
- an option being tabled by Leicester City Council, which could expand the city boundaries and include Rutland in a single Leicestershire unitary
We’ve given a short explanation for each of these three options and provided links where you can read the different plans in full.
North, City, South, covering Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
Rutland County Council and the seven district and borough councils of Leicestershire have worked together to produce an interim plan for our shared area which is built on collaboration, evidence and engagement.
This plan is a response to the government’s statutory invitation, dated 5 February 2025, asking the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area to submit interim proposals to reduce the number of councils and replace them with new unitary authorities.
It proposes a model for three unitary authorities along the following lines:
- unitary 1, serving North Leicestershire and Rutland (an area currently served by Charnwood, North West Leicestershire and Melton district and borough councils, and Rutland County Council)
- unitary 2, serving South Leicestershire (an area currently served by Blaby, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth and Oadby and Wigston district and borough councils)
- unitary 3, serving the city of Leicester (based on its existing boundaries)
We believe this joint plan with Leicestershire’s district and borough councils is the best option for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland shared area.
The North, City, South interim proposal could:
- create three well-balanced unitary councils serving a similar number of residents
- keep councils connected and accountable to local communities
- simplify services for residents, businesses, and partners
- protect the vulnerable and get support to people sooner
- deliver devolution and economic growth
- boost efficiency by saving nearly £43 million a year
Read the full North, City, South interim plan document and an executive summary:
Greater Lincolnshire area
Given our geography, it is appropriate that Rutland also be included in the North Kesteven and South Kesteven District Council proposal that forms part of the Greater Lincolnshire area interim plan, as one of several options being presented to government at this early stage.
The North Kesteven and South Kesteven District Council interim proposal is for a three unitary solution that would cover the following areas:
- unitary 1, serving North Kesteven, South Kesteven, South Holland and Rutland
- unitary 2, serving Boston, City of Lincoln Council, East Lindsey and West Lindsey
- unitary 3, serving North East Lincolnshire Council and North Lincolnshire Council
Creating two new unitaries covering the existing Lincolnshire County Council area, would lead to balanced populations of more than 400,000. The combination of two existing unitaries in the north of Greater Lincolnshire have a combined population of 328,000.
The proposal is intended to support devolution and includes Rutland, citing our previous membership of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership. The inclusion of Rutland would involve the crossing of health, police and fire service boundaries but is said to be justified by the county’s economic orientation and parliamentary boundaries.
A full business case will set out detailed cost benefit analysis for the proposal.
Expanded Leicester City and single Leicestershire unitary
Leicester City Council has produced an interim plan for reorganisation that would expand its boundaries and lead to the creation of two unitary councils for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area:
- unitary 1, an enlarged city with a population of 623,000 by 2028
- unitary 2, a second unitary council with a population of 578,000 for the remaining areas of the county and Rutland
The City is forecasting that its plan would deliver cost savings in the region of £34m annually, with the estimated £22m costs of transition to be funded locally over a three-year period.
Although we have made it clear that we will not support any model of local government reorganisation that places Rutland in a single unitary structure for the whole of Leicestershire, we have also committed to carrying out widespread public and stakeholder engagement for all options that include Rutland.