Eight Leicestershire and Rutland councils have worked together to submit a bold vision to Government for future council structures.

All seven Leicestershire district and borough councils and Rutland County Council are formally backing the North, City, South plan which would see three strong unitary councils delivering services for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The plan has been developed following extensive engagement with communities, partners, stakeholders and businesses across two exercises which received around 10,000 responses. The engagement showed strong support for a three-unitary council approach.

The North, City, South proposal is in response to the Government's instruction to reduce the 10 councils in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area and create a mayoral-led strategic authority as part of its devolution agenda to give power and funding to the regions.

The eight council leaders say North, City, South is the most credible option for future council structures, is backed by compelling evidence and data, has community support and meets all criteria set by Government.

The plan would see 10 councils reduced to three, serving around 400,000 residents each. They would cover:

• North Leicestershire and Rutland
• South Leicestershire
• Leicester City

The North, City, South plan will enable:

• the delivery of devolution at pace by holding a Mayoral election in 2027
• accelerated economic growth
• more prevention focused services to improve lives and reduce demand
• savings of over £44 million a year
• councils to remain connected to communities
• the retention of Leicester's current city boundary
• three financially sustainable councils

The business case is clear that the city council is financially stable without changing the boundary, largely thanks to government funding changes and a greater focus on prevention to reduce demand on services like social care. The two new authorities would also be financially strong.

The city's growth, along with that in the two new authority areas, can be supported and developed through collaboration which has happened for many years through joint growth plans. This would be led by the new mayoral strategic authority to drive investment into the area.

The North, City, South plan places a strong focus on prevention with the proposed creation of neighbourhood partnerships to help council services work more closely with other public services like the NHS, police and the voluntary and charity sector. This would get help to people sooner, improve lives and reduce demand to help councils be more sustainable.

There is also a commitment to retain Rutland's name and ceremonial status.

Cllr Pip Allnatt, Leader of Melton Borough Council and speaking on behalf of the Leaders of the North, City, South councils, said: "The North, City, South proposal represents a united vision from eight councils, cutting across political boundaries to put communities first.

"North, City, South is about creating strong, sustainable councils that can deliver better services, unlock investment, and accelerate growth.

"We've listened to residents, businesses, and partners, and their feedback has shaped this plan.

"It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to move from reacting to problems to preventing them helping people earlier and improving lives.

"Local government isn't broken, but Government has made it clear that change is needed.

"This plan offers a clear, credible direction for Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland for decades to come."

It is anticipated that Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council will also make final proposals to Government.

The county council has indicated it will be submitting a plan for two unitary councils – one for Leicestershire and Rutland, serving a population of around 800,000 and one for the city, serving a population of around 400,000.

The North, City, South councils say one council for Leicestershire and Rutland would be too big, too cumbersome and too remote for local communities.

Leicester City Council has said its preferred option is to expand the city boundary into Charnwood, Harborough, Oadby and Wigston and Blaby, creating two unitary councils. The city council would increase its population to 625,000 and the other authority would serve around 580,000 residents.

The North, City, South councils say there is no need to expand the city boundary as a city council can be financially sustainable on its current size plus changing multiple boundaries would be complex and costly and not what Government has advised. It would also be unpopular with communities who have made it clear they do not want the city boundary to expand.

Government will consider all proposals for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and it is expected to hold a consultation in the new year. Read More »

A draft plan to reorganise councils, accelerate devolution and unlock economic growth across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has been published today.

The North, City, South plan sets out a vision for three unitary councils and a mayoral strategic authority to lead the area into a more prosperous future.

The three unitary authorities, which would deliver all council services, would cover North Leicestershire and Rutland, South Leicestershire, and Leicester City. Each would have a population of around 400,000 residents.

Developed jointly by Leicestershire's district and borough councils and Rutland County Council, the draft plan proposes to:

• create more prevention focused services to improve lives and reduce demand
• save over £44 million a year
• keep councils connected to communities
• deliver devolution at pace by holding a Mayoral election in 2027
• build on, and accelerate, economic growth by identifying strengths then using devolved powers and funding to support jobs and infrastructure investment
• retain Leicester's current City boundary

The North, City, South draft calls this a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset, reimagine, and reinvigorate local government and says engagement with communities and stakeholders has shown significant support.

The proposal is in response to the Government's instruction to reduce councils in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area and create a mayoral-led strategic authority as part of its devolution agenda to give power and funding to the regions.

The eight councils submitted an interim plan to Government in March and have now published a more detailed draft.

Each district council and Rutland County Council will now consider the proposal, and further amendments will be made ahead of the Government's final proposal deadline of 28 November 2025.

The plan's key points are summarised below.

Neighbourhood Partnerships and the prevention agenda

The North, City, South model outlines how core council services such as social care and housing could work more closely alongside the NHS, police and the voluntary and charity sector, joining up area-based services, and tailoring them to the needs of local communities, overseen by new, dynamic Neighbourhood Partnerships.

Working with local residents, these partnerships would identify local priorities and agree Neighbourhood and Community Plans to deliver them. Built around recognisable local communities, the model envisages nine or 10 partnerships in the north and south unitaries, with fewer in the City.

Keeping the 'local' in local government, a key focus for the Neighbourhood Partnerships is to support healthier, more independent lives, reducing future demand on services, and improving local wellbeing and prosperity.

The model will also create opportunities to invest in housing and build an extra 1,150 homes for affordable social rents.

Sustainable services

The North, City South plan would deliver savings of more than £44 million a year by
reducing staffing costs and councillor numbers, achieving procurement efficiencies through greater buying power and creating the potential to rationalise some assets and properties, whilst maintaining a commitment to retain customer service centres in all key towns.

The plan sets out a 10-year strategy which will transform the 10 councils' collective budgets from a deficit into a surplus, through the prevention agenda which will reduce demand.

Strong support for North, City, South

The North, City South group held a significant engagement exercise in the summer which received over 6,000 responses.

It revealed strong support for the North, City South proposal with over half (56%) backing a three unitary model, and 60% supporting the North, City, South proposed areas.

No complex boundary changes

The engagement exercise showed the proposed city boundary expansion was the main topic people wanted to comment on, with strong opposition to any expansion.

The North, City, South plan concludes the City Council's proposal to expand the city boundary would:

• be expensive and complex to implement
• not significantly improve the City Council finances
• be hugely unpopular with communities

Delivering devolution at pace and driving growth

The North, City, South plan calls for mayoral elections in May 2027 to bring powers and funding to the area as soon as possible. This is something local businesses and stakeholders in districts and boroughs have called for during extensive engagement.

The North, City, South plan says three well-balanced unitary councils better fit the strategic authority model and offer clear division between strategic oversight and service delivery.

Economic modelling shows the three unitary council approach has the potential to stimulate significant growth, supporting the creation of 219,000 jobs and generating £8 billion to the public purse thanks to business growth by 2050.

Cllr Pip Allnatt, Leader of Melton Borough Council and speaking on behalf of the Leaders of the North, City, South councils, said: "The North, City, South plan has been developed by the eight partner councils, representing a wide range of political views and demonstrating a strong commitment to collaboration for the good of our communities.

"This draft has now been published to be considered by our fellow councillors. We're also sharing it with communities, businesses and stakeholders who have helped shaped its development.

"Should it be approved, the final proposal will be made to Government in November.

"North, City, South makes a strong case to deliver devolution alongside local government reorganisation. This will unlock investment, create jobs, and boost prosperity. The approach reflects feedback from businesses and stakeholders who support these ambitions.

"It also outlines a once-in-a-generation chance to shift from treating symptoms to tackling root causes, getting support to people earlier.

"Local government isn't broken, but the Government says change is needed and the North, City, South plan offers a clear direction of travel for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for the next 50 years."

The draft proposal can be read on the North, City, South website. Visit www.northcitysouth.co.uk/draft-proposal Read More »