Date confirmed for next Special Council Meeting on devolution
We've confirmed the date for our next Special Council Meeting on the issue of devolution and local government reorganisation.
Rutland County Council has confirmed the date for its next Special Council Meeting to discuss the issue of devolution and local government reorganisation.
The meeting will be held at the Council’s Catmose Offices in Oakham on Tuesday 11 March, as well as being streamed live online. Doors will open shortly before the meeting starts at 7.00pm.
National government has made devolution a priority and published a white paper that sets out plans to create a network of large strategic authorities covering the whole of England. These new authorities will be led by elected mayors and have responsibilities for strategic issues including transport, work and skills and growth.
As part of its devolution requirements, the government has made clear that it wants to see the end of two-tier working in local government. This will see the end of district and borough councils, county councils and small unitary councils, to be replaced by new larger council structures.
Responding to the government’s timetable for change, Rutland County Council is working with district and borough councils in Leicestershire to prepare an interim plan for local government reorganisation before 21 March 2025.
Plans for a single unitary council covering the whole of Leicestershire and serving 800,000 residents were announced by Leicestershire County Council earlier this month. Leicestershire’s district and borough councils, together with Rutland County Council, have shared an initial preference for three unitary councils:
- one to serve North Leicestershire and Rutland (an area currently served by Charnwood, North West Leicestershire and Melton district and borough councils, and Rutland County Council)
- one for South Leicestershire (an area currently served by Blaby, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth and Oadby & Wigston district and borough councils)
- one for the city of Leicester (based on its existing boundaries)
Rutland’s Special Council Meeting on 11 March will allow councillors to discuss these latest developments ahead of the Government’s 21 March deadline for interim plans.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has advised councils that March is primarily a checkpoint to get assurance that councils are working together to develop proposals in line with the Government’s criteria. March interim plans won’t be set in stone and can describe more than one potential proposal for an area, if there is more than one option under consideration
“A lot has happened in a few short weeks and the devolution process is continuing to move at pace because of the timescales set by national government. Despite this, we remain at an early stage and the development of an interim plan for 21 March does not commit us to anything.
“Working with the district and borough councils in Leicestershire and taking account of the criteria set out by government, we’ve considered things like population size, how people work, live and commute, economic and commercial opportunities and the local job and skills markets. Based on this, the option for unitary authorities in the north and south, and the city, seems to offer the best balance. However, it’s still only one option.
“Although nothing is set in stone, we’d like to know what our residents, businesses and local partners think at this early stage. This is why we’re seeking feedback from people via our website, where you can read more about what’s happening and share your views. More comprehensive public engagement will follow this summer to help develop final proposals that must be submitted by 28 November 2025. Government will also carry out a consultation on any final proposal, so there will be lots of opportunity for people to get involved.”
Councillor Gale Waller, Leader of Rutland County Council
For more information about devolution and local government reorganisation and to share your views, please visit our Devolution page.
The agenda and reports for Special Council on Tuesday 11 March will be published on our Meetings page a week before to the meeting date.