Bold vision for future of local council structures submitted to Government
A bold vision which puts people and places at the heart of future council structures in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has been submitted to Government today. (Friday 21 March 2025).
The seven district and borough councils of Leicestershire and Rutland County Council have worked closely together to create the shared vision which is built on a foundation of collaboration, evidence and engagement.
The plan is in response to the Government’s request to the area to submit interim proposals to reduce the number of councils and replace them with new unitary authorities. It is part of its devolution agenda.
The plan is entitled North, City, South: The Natural Choice – Big Enough to Deliver, Close Enough to Respond.
It has been developed by the partnership of councils and proposes three equally-sized unitary councils to deliver all council services. One would serve North Leicestershire and Rutland, and one would serve South Leicestershire. They would work alongside Leicester City Council.
The district councils and Rutland County Council say their interim proposal will:
Keep councils connected and accountable to local communities
Simplify services for residents, businesses, and partners
Protect and support the vulnerable and focus on prevention
Deliver devolution and economic growth
Boost efficiency, saving nearly £43 million a year
The Leaders of the district councils and Rutland County Council said in a joint statement: “The eight councils involved in developing this interim plan have collaborated to an unprecedented level and sought input from communities and a wide range of stakeholders.
“The evidence, data and engagement carried out so far has made it clear that the proposal we make to government delivers on all fronts. It meets the government’s criteria for devolution and local government reorganisation and secures the best deal for our communities.
“Three well-balanced, equally-sized councils can retain community connection and accountability, simplify services, protect and support the most vulnerable and deliver devolution which is critical to boost the local economy. It also sets out a greater focus on prevention and helping people live healthier and more independent lives.
“Our interim plan will also deliver savings, but it very much puts people and place at the heart of future local government structures.
“We are clear this is an interim plan and further engagement is needed with government, stakeholders and communities before final proposals are made in November. We will continue to gather the evidence and carry out more in-depth engagement in the coming months. All voices must be heard.
“While we do not think the current system is broken, we very much recognise the Government’s intent on change and therefore we need to deliver.
“We are also still of the view that Leicestershire County Council’s idea for one single unitary authority for Leicestershire would be too big, too cumbersome and too remote for local communities.
“We would like to thank the more than 4,600 people and organisations who submitted their views during an initial piece of engagement work. Much more engagement will follow. This is the biggest shake-up of local government in 50 years, and we are working hard to get this right for all communities.”
The interim plan from the district and borough councils and Rutland County Council has been published on the councils’ websites today.
The document plan says the North, City, South option offers a much better-balanced council structure with three councils of around 400,000 residents when compared to the county council’s proposal for one single unitary for Leicestershire of around 800,000 residents.
The plan outlines:
The areas currently served by Charnwood, North West Leicestershire and Melton district and borough councils, and Rutland County Council, would be served by one unitary authority (North Leicestershire and Rutland)
The areas currently served by Blaby, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth and Oadby & Wigston district and borough councils would be served by another unitary authority (South Leicestershire)
Leicester City would continue to be a unitary authority based on its existing boundaries
The interim plan outlines how the balanced geographies for the new councils would ensure they can retain connection and accountability to local communities.
Grassroots democracy would be enhanced, and subject to local views, opportunities would be explored to create town or parish councils in key settlements.
Neighbourhood working would be strengthened through empowered elected members, area-based teams and vibrant community partnerships, and the approach would preserve local identity and civic pride. The importance of preserving Rutland County’s historic ceremonial county status is fully recognised.
Services would be simplified by councils across sensible geographies being delivered by one authority.
The plan sets out a greater focus on prevention and working with all partners to help people live healthier and more independent lives by ensuring they have access to the support services they need.
The plan supports economic growth by as the North, City, South model best fits the Government’s devolution agenda which will help unlock the region’s economic potential, delivering millions of pounds of public and private sector investment.
Savings would be delivered through factors including the reduced number of senior managers and councillors and economies of scale in procurement and commissioning.
The interim plan concludes: “Our plan is not just a roadmap but a commitment to building vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous communities. By aligning our efforts and embracing innovative approaches, we will create a dynamic environment where every resident can thrive.
“Our new governance structures will empower local voices, foster economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for all. With a focus on preventive services, community engagement, and sustainable development, we are poised to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.
“Together, we will shape a future that reflects the aspirations and needs of our diverse communities.”
A bid to create one council for Leicestershire, saving £30m a year, has been submitted to the Government.
Two alternative plans have also been put forward. The city council is proposing to significantly extend the boundary around Leicester, while the districts and Rutland are proposing to create two unitary councils only delivering around 50% of the planned savings.
Independent national studies have shown that unitary councils can improve a council’s financial situation where larger councils are set up and can benefit from the economies of scale and avoid the costs of splitting up services.
Leicestershire County Council’s proposal would protect services, reduce confusion over who does what and give communities a stronger voice.
The county council says that bringing eight councils into one body would:
Save £30m a year to reinvest in vital services – compared to £17m if there were two unitary councils
Cover 734,000 residents – in line with the Government’s criteria of 500,000 plus
Reduce the number of councillors by 2/3 from 303 to 110 – in line with other comparable unitary councils
Create locally based ‘area committees’ – enabling local people to be fully involved in decisions that affect them and their area
Early feedback showed good levels of support for the principles behind the idea, with more than 50 per cent of the respondents rating all nine values as fairly or very important. 95 per cent of respondents agreed that better public services were important.
The Government asked councils to submit initial proposals by 21 March and more detailed plans by November. A more wide-ranging consultation is set to take place over the summer, enabling residents, staff, partners and businesses to comment on a more detailed plan. This will be shared with the Government, and with district, city and Rutland councils.
The Government wants to move away from ‘two tier’ local government and asked councils to work up ideas for unitary local government which would lead to devolution from Government.
http://whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whetstone-logo-light.png00whetstonehttp://whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whetstone-logo-light.pngwhetstone2025-03-24 17:40:292025-03-24 17:41:24‘One Council’ bid to be sent to Government
Multi-million-pound investment in supporting vulnerable people, fixing pot holes and tackling flooding, and a 4.99 per cent Council Tax rise, are set out in fresh budget proposals published by Leicestershire County Council.
The four-year plan lays out the tough situation facing councils and shows that rapidly rising demand for services, and inflation, is driving up costs by £218m. This compares to expected extra income and savings of £127m.
It earmarks around £100m more to support vulnerable children and adults and £12m extra to fix potholes and roads.
Following the devastating floods at New Year, it’s now proposed to invest £1m more in helping communities clean up and become flood-ready.
The cash would be used to undertake more investigations, designed to pinpoint the causes of flooding and identify any potential solutions, and to fund drainage repairs. Another half-a-million-pounds will also be spent by April to clear drains of flood debris and fix immediate damage.
It’s planned to use reserves to manage a small budget gap next year – by 2027, this gap is forecast to increase to £38m and rise to £91m by 2029.
Councillor Deborah Taylor, acting leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: “Our focus has to be managing what’s in our gift and remaining financially resilient. We’re investing big sums of money in supporting vulnerable people, directing as much as we can into services we know our residents value, such as mending pot holes, and supporting flood-hit communities.
“Flooding is heartbreaking for our residents and businesses, with many counting the costs for the second or third time in just a year. So it’s only right that we help them to recover and invest in bolstering communities’ resilience. But we need Government to grip the issue. We’ve written to the flooding minister calling to overhaul the national approach and we need action.”
The council’s yearly budget totals £616m – the authority is one of the biggest organisations in the county, spending around £10m every week on crucial services for Leicestershire residents.
Councillor Lee Breckon, cabinet member for resources, said: “The pressure on councils’ budgets is relentless. The National Living Wage and National Insurance changes alone add around £20m to our costs next year. This includes what we need to pay our care providers, which is not funded by Government.
“We’re lean, high-performing and low funded but continuing to do the best we can with the money we have. No one wants to increase Council Tax but without it, we’d have to make £20m more savings next year, and consultation feedback showed good support for our proposals.
“Thanks to taking tough decisions and planning ahead, we aren’t at the crisis point many other councils face. But we have reached a stage where it’s vital Government tackles the big issues driving our costs head on. And the extra money needed to provide services in a rural area has to be a focus.”
The proposals at a glance:
The books balance for next year by using reserves to manage a small gap – with a budget gap of £38m in 2027, rising to £91m by 2029
£1m extra to support flood-hit communities – following the devastating flooding in the New Year
Just under £100m more to support vulnerable people – in response to huge increase in demand
An extra £12m of capital to help fix potholes and repair roads – taking the total spend on roads, major schemes and tackling flooding to £125m
A Council Tax rise of 4.99% from April – generating an extra £20m, which covers only the National Living Wage and National Insurance rises before any increased service demand is taken into account
£33m of savings – including redesigning services, reducing the cost of back-office support services by maximising digital technology and smarter procurement, plus £52m to bring spend on SEND more in line with Government funding
A £380m four-year capital pot – to fund one-costs of building roads, social care accommodation, new school places needed to support new housing, and more
The cabinet will consider the updated proposals next Friday (7 February) before the budget is agreed at a full county council meeting on 19 February – watch online: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/webcast
Notes
The extra flooding money comes from the council’s service investment fund, designed to respond to immediate priorities.
Around 1,000 properties across the city, county and Rutland – including over 700 in Leicestershire – were hit by unprecedented floods in the New Year.
A consultation on the budget proposals ran from 18 December to 19 January.
Residents’ Council Tax bills include levies from district councils, police, fire and parish and town councils who all set their own budgets.
http://whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whetstone-logo-light.png00whetstonehttp://whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whetstone-logo-light.pngwhetstone2025-01-31 17:20:182025-01-31 17:20:18Fresh budget proposals factor in major flood clean up
River levels hit their highest point since records began during last week’s devastating floods, as the number of flood-hit homes nears 900.
Agencies across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland continue to support residents and businesses affected by last week’s unprecedented floods after a month’s worth of rain fell in a couple of days.
David Turnbull, the Environment Agency’s flood risk manager, said: “This has been a major event. Heavy rainfall and snow melt has meant that flows in our rivers and tributaries were similar to Storm Henk and several exceeded their highest recorded levels.
“In some areas, the rainfall over 24 hours was more than double that seen during last year’s Storm Henk.
“Flooding can be devastating for people. We’ll continue to work with our partners to help communities be more resilient to flood risk. Initial estimates show that our defences prevented flooding to over 2,000 properties.”
Zafar Saleem, Leicestershire County Council assistant chief executive and chair of the partnership recovery group, said: “It’s too early to say what the exact reasons were. But we do know that we’ve seen levels of rainfall, snow melt and river flows like never before. This simply overwhelmed drainage, watercourses, and defences.
“For some people it’s the second time their homes and businesses have flooded within a year. People are understandably angry and worried about the future. As a partnership, we’re continuing to support local residents, but more needs to be done to tackle this national issue.
“This rainfall caused major flooding from the river network impacting so many communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
“Sadly, it’s not possible to fully defend all households against events like this which are happening more frequently across the country. We must continue to work together to help reduce the impact of flooding. This includes people being aware and prepared for floods.”
Last week, councils across Leicestershire and Rutland wrote to ministers asking for financial support and a shakeup of the national approach to flooding.
This week, council officers are visiting homes to provide support and advice. Councils and other agencies continue the clean-up operation, sweeping roads and collecting flood damaged property.
Residents affected by the floods are reminded of the support and advice available:
http://whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whetstone-logo-light.png00whetstonehttp://whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whetstone-logo-light.pngwhetstone2025-01-17 11:44:012025-01-17 11:44:13New stats reveal record breaking river levels
Don’t miss the chance to comment on a new four-year budget plan, residents are being urged.
Leicestershire County Council is consulting on proposals which show that rapidly rising demand for services, and inflation, are increasing costs by £217m. This compares to expected extra income and savings of £122m.
People have until 19 January to have their say on the plan which includes earmarking just under £100m more to support vulnerable children and adults, £12m more to fix potholes and repair roads and a 4.99 per cent Council Tax increase.
The authority is set to balance the books next year by using reserves to manage a small gap. By 2027, this gap is forecast to increase to £42m and rise to £95m by 2029.
Councillor Lee Breckon, cabinet member for resources, said: “There’s just under two weeks left to give your feedback. We deliver over 400 services which impact everyone’s lives so don’t miss out on having your say.”
The council’s yearly budget totals £616m – the authority is one of the biggest organisations in the county, spending around £10m every week on crucial services for Leicestershire residents.
Lee Breckon added: “Unlike many other councils, we’re not at crisis point. Tough decisions and major re-designs of services have stood us in good stead and are bringing down costs.
“But pressure on local government is continually ramping up. With three-quarters of our budget now spent on supporting vulnerable people, we need the Government to tackle the big issues.
“Council Tax remains our most important source of income. No one wants to ask residents to pay more but without it, we couldn’t deliver the services we know our residents rely on.”
The consultation is open until 19 January: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/budget
The proposals at a glance:
The books balance for next year by using reserves to manage a small gap – with a budget gap of £42m in 2027, rising to £95m by 2029
Just under £100m more to support vulnerable people – in response to huge increase in demand
An extra £12m of capital to help fix potholes and repair roads – taking the total spend on roads, major schemes and tackling flooding to £125m
A Council Tax rise of 4.99% from April – generating an extra £20m which covers only the National Living Wage and National Insurance increases
£33m of savings – including redesigning services, reducing the cost of back-office support services by maximising digital technology and smarter procurement, plus £52m to bring spend on SEND more in line with Government funding
A £380m four-year capital pot – to fund one-costs of building roads, social care accommodation, new school places needed to support new housing, and more.
Notes
All feedback will help to shape the final budget proposals. The council’s final budget is agreed at a full county council meeting in February.
Residents’ Council Tax bills include levies from district councils, police, fire and parish and town councils who all set their own budgets.
http://whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whetstone-logo-light.png00whetstonehttp://whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whetstone-logo-light.pngwhetstone2025-01-09 11:45:452025-01-09 11:45:45Still time to comment on new budget plan
Government urged to ‘tackle big issues’ for local government funding
A firm grip on finances in the face of spiralling costs, is why Leicestershire County Council hasn’t hit crisis point, says the authority as it publishes a new budget plan.
The four-year proposals reveal rapidly rising demand for services, and inflation, are increasing costs by £217m, compared to expected extra income and savings of £122m.
A combination of innovative initiatives and a reduced back office – which are both driving down costs by £33m – plus a Council Tax rise, means the books will balance next year but relentless pressure on services could create a £95m budget gap by 2029.
The plan includes earmarking just under £100m more to support vulnerable children and adults. An extra £12m of capital is also proposed to help fix potholes and repair roads, taking the total spend on roads, major schemes and tackling flooding to £125m over four years.
A proposed 4.99 per cent Council Tax increase from April (including 2 per cent for adult social care) will increase bills by £1.54 a week for a band D house. Generating £20m, it only covers the National Living Wage and National Insurance rises.
Acting council leader, Councillor Deborah Taylor, said: “Our financial position remains extremely challenging, although the strong grip we’ve maintained over our finances has ensured we are not at crisis point.
“I’m proud that pioneering work to drive down costs is paying off but the stark reality is that surging demand is not receding.
“This squeezes what we can spend elsewhere but we’re still fixing 7,300 potholes a year, supporting over 1,000 households to stay warm, gritting 1,300 miles of road each night during winter, and much more.
“That’s why it’s vital an overhaul of local government funding tackles the big issues. A focus purely on deprivation will disadvantage rural counties.”
Key budget pressures include:
Children’s social care – a 60 per cent rise in demand and a 33 per cent increase in prices for placements have pushed up costs by £15m over the last two years
Special educational needs and disability support – with 90 per cent more children having education, health and care plans compared to five years ago
Construction price rises – costs for infrastructure schemes have been driven up significantly with inflation
Councillor Lee Breckon, cabinet member for resources, said: “Despite being the lowest funded county, we’re high performing. And have saved £276m since 2010, showing how efficient and lean we are.
“We heavily rely on Council Tax to fund vital services. I know wallets are stretched but without an increase, we couldn’t deliver the level of service we know our residents need.
“Twenty-million-pounds sounds a lot but is wiped out by the National Living Wage and National Insurance rises. The ‘new’ money the Government announced for councils doesn’t shift the dial – and won’t cover all the extra costs from the autumn budget.
“The funding system must change to benefit low funded councils. If we were funded at same level as neighbours Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, we’d have around £100m more each year, and this can’t be right.”
Pioneering projects helping the council to make ends meet include:
Streetlight switch – upgrading 68,000 streetlights from sodium lamps to LEDs is cutting carbon emissions by a massive 85 per cent compared to 2008 and driving down costs by over £2m a year. The project has just scooped prestigious Highway Electrical Association award for Sustainable Project of the Year.
Helping people live at home – rolling out ‘care tech’ – over 2,600 pieces of equipment, including falls detectors and GPS location trackers – is helping over 1,000 people to live independently at home for longer and reducing adult social care costs by £1.25m.
Barnardo’s – teaming up with Barnardo’s to run eight children’s homes locally is on track to generate savings of £2.25m over four years.
Tune in online next Tuesday (17 December) to hear the council’s cabinet discuss the proposals: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/webcast
A consultation on the plan is set to launch on 18 December.
Notes
The council’s yearly budget totals £616m – the authority is one of the biggest organisations in Leicestershire, spending around £10m every week on crucial services for Leicestershire residents.
District councils, police, fire and parish and town councils all make up portions of residents’ total Council Tax bills.
The proposals at a glance:
The books balance by using reserves to manage a small gap – with a budget gap of £42m in 2027, rising to £95m by 2029
Just under £100m more to support vulnerable people – in response to huge increase in demand
An extra £12m of capital to help fix potholes and repair roads – taking the total spend on roads, major schemes and tackling flooding to £125m
A Council Tax rise of 4.99% from April – generating an extra £20m which covers only the National Living Wage and National Insurance increases
£33m of savings – including redesigning services, reducing the cost of back-office support services by maximising digital technology and smarter procurement, plus £52m to bring spend on SEND more in line with Government funding
A £380m four-year capital pot – to fund one-costs of building roads, social care accommodation, new school places needed to support new housing, and more.
http://whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whetstone-logo-light.png00whetstonehttp://whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whetstone-logo-light.pngwhetstone2024-12-12 12:46:542024-12-12 12:46:54Leicestershire County Council: Government urged to ‘tackle big issues' for local government funding
I am delighted to let you know that our Community Awards are running again this year and that nominations are now open! The awards recognise and celebrate the contribution and achievements of individual volunteers and voluntary sector organisations that serve Blaby district. There are three award categories:
Volunteer of the Year
Young Volunteer of the Year
Community Group of the Year
Nominations will close at midnight on Sunday 10 November 2024 after which individual winners will be decided by a judging panel and the Community Group of the Year will be decided by a public vote. Thanks to this year’s sponsors – Everyone Active, Central Co-op and the Love Blaby Lottery – we can offer cash prizes for our deserving winners and runners-up and host a special awards ceremony in January. More details, including the entry criteria, and the online nomination form are available at Community Awards 2024 – Blaby District Council
I would be really grateful if you could help to raise awareness of the Community Awards through your networks and keep an eye out on our social media channels to help share posts on your feeds (Blaby District | Leicester | Facebook and https://twitter.com/BlabyDC). A press release will also follow soon. It would be great to reach as wide an audience as possible in order to receive individual and group nominations from across the whole district. You are, of course, welcome to nominate too. If you have any queries or requests for a paper or email version of the nomination form, please contact
https://www.whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Nominate-now-FB.png10801920whetstonehttp://whetstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Whetstone-logo-light.pngwhetstone2024-10-16 15:35:382024-10-16 15:36:36Community Awards from Blaby District Council
If you have experienced internal flooding to your home or business during Storm Babet (October 2023) or Storm Henk (January 2024), you may be eligible for a grant of up to £5,000 (inclusive of VAT) through the Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Repair Grant Scheme.
We have our flooding pages on the website and are putting messages out on our social media channels. Flooding – Blaby District Council.
There have been evacuations from properties but so far nobody has required housing and/or a rest centre being established but we will review this throughout the evening.We will keep you up to date with information and impacts
Visitor spend across Blaby District has smashed the target set by the Council in its bid to make the area one of Leicestershire’s leading, most welcoming and sustainable tourism destinations.
In Blaby District Council’s current Tourism Growth Plan one aim was to increase the value of tourism by £50 million on 2016’s baseline level of £159 million.Latest figures for 2023 show this target has easily been surpassed with visitor spend at an impressive £217 million.
The growth in tourism spend is proving to be a springboard for wider economic prosperity across the District. Spend on accommodation, recreation and food and drink have seen the biggest rises. There has also been a significant increase in employment numbers despite difficulties faced by the sector.
The other two main aims in the Tourism Growth Plan are to, by 2025, increase the number of visitors by 1.3 million – to 4.6 million and increase the number of tourism jobs by 40% to 2,770. As of the end of 2023 visitor figures were at 3.04 million and there were 2,508 jobs.
As the existing Growth Plan ends the Council has started planning for 2025-2030. This includes a review of progress to date and consultation within the Council, the Tourism Partnership and key stakeholders, ready to launch in the new plan next year.
Councillor Cheryl Cashmore, Blaby District Council Portfolio Holder for Health, Leisure, Climate and Economic Development, said: “We are delighted with the progress being made, especially since the latest data shows a strong recovery post-Covid in all areas. In particular it’s fantastic to see the growth in the value of tourism, surpassing our ambitious target already.
“Our Tourism Growth Plan plays a vital role in moving forward the over-riding Blaby District Plan 2024-2028. It helps achieve our vision for Blaby District to be a great place to visit. It is also key to our priorities for ‘growing and supporting our economy’ and ‘keeping you safe and healthy’, by increasing visitor numbers, spend and employment in the District.
“It will also play a pivotal role in the Active Travel Strategy, Community, Health and Well-being Plan and the Economic Development Framework, making Blaby District a welcoming and sustainable tourism destination for residents and visitors.”
19 September 2024
Best regards
Karen Almond Communications and Consultation Officer Communications Blaby District Council
News Release
Bold vision for future of local council structures submitted to Government
A bold vision which puts people and places at the heart of future council structures in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has been submitted to Government today. (Friday 21 March 2025).
The seven district and borough councils of Leicestershire and Rutland County Council have worked closely together to create the shared vision which is built on a foundation of collaboration, evidence and engagement.
The plan is in response to the Government’s request to the area to submit interim proposals to reduce the number of councils and replace them with new unitary authorities. It is part of its devolution agenda.
The plan is entitled North, City, South: The Natural Choice – Big Enough to Deliver, Close Enough to Respond.
It has been developed by the partnership of councils and proposes three equally-sized unitary councils to deliver all council services. One would serve North Leicestershire and Rutland, and one would serve South Leicestershire. They would work alongside Leicester City Council.
The district councils and Rutland County Council say their interim proposal will:
The Leaders of the district councils and Rutland County Council said in a joint statement: “The eight councils involved in developing this interim plan have collaborated to an unprecedented level and sought input from communities and a wide range of stakeholders.
“The evidence, data and engagement carried out so far has made it clear that the proposal we make to government delivers on all fronts. It meets the government’s criteria for devolution and local government reorganisation and secures the best deal for our communities.
“Three well-balanced, equally-sized councils can retain community connection and accountability, simplify services, protect and support the most vulnerable and deliver devolution which is critical to boost the local economy. It also sets out a greater focus on prevention and helping people live healthier and more independent lives.
“Our interim plan will also deliver savings, but it very much puts people and place at the heart of future local government structures.
“We are clear this is an interim plan and further engagement is needed with government, stakeholders and communities before final proposals are made in November. We will continue to gather the evidence and carry out more in-depth engagement in the coming months. All voices must be heard.
“While we do not think the current system is broken, we very much recognise the Government’s intent on change and therefore we need to deliver.
“We are also still of the view that Leicestershire County Council’s idea for one single unitary authority for Leicestershire would be too big, too cumbersome and too remote for local communities.
“We would like to thank the more than 4,600 people and organisations who submitted their views during an initial piece of engagement work. Much more engagement will follow. This is the biggest shake-up of local government in 50 years, and we are working hard to get this right for all communities.”
The interim plan from the district and borough councils and Rutland County Council has been published on the councils’ websites today.
The document plan says the North, City, South option offers a much better-balanced council structure with three councils of around 400,000 residents when compared to the county council’s proposal for one single unitary for Leicestershire of around 800,000 residents.
The plan outlines:
The interim plan outlines how the balanced geographies for the new councils would ensure they can retain connection and accountability to local communities.
Grassroots democracy would be enhanced, and subject to local views, opportunities would be explored to create town or parish councils in key settlements.
Neighbourhood working would be strengthened through empowered elected members, area-based teams and vibrant community partnerships, and the approach would preserve local identity and civic pride. The importance of preserving Rutland County’s historic ceremonial county status is fully recognised.
Services would be simplified by councils across sensible geographies being delivered by one authority.
The plan sets out a greater focus on prevention and working with all partners to help people live healthier and more independent lives by ensuring they have access to the support services they need.
The plan supports economic growth by as the North, City, South model best fits the Government’s devolution agenda which will help unlock the region’s economic potential, delivering millions of pounds of public and private sector investment.
Savings would be delivered through factors including the reduced number of senior managers and councillors and economies of scale in procurement and commissioning.
The interim plan concludes: “Our plan is not just a roadmap but a commitment to building vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous communities. By aligning our efforts and embracing innovative approaches, we will create a dynamic environment where every resident can thrive.
“Our new governance structures will empower local voices, foster economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for all. With a focus on preventive services, community engagement, and sustainable development, we are poised to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.
“Together, we will shape a future that reflects the aspirations and needs of our diverse communities.”
Karen Almond
Communications and Consultation Officer
Mob: 07787 947674
Tel: 0116 272 7577
Email:
Web: www.blaby.gov.uk
Keep in touch: www.blaby.gov.uk/signup
Facebook: www.facebook.com/blabydc
Find out what level of service you are entitled to receive by viewing our Service Standards
‘One Council’ bid to be sent to Government
A bid to create one council for Leicestershire, saving £30m a year, has been submitted to the Government.
Two alternative plans have also been put forward. The city council is proposing to significantly extend the boundary around Leicester, while the districts and Rutland are proposing to create two unitary councils only delivering around 50% of the planned savings.
Independent national studies have shown that unitary councils can improve a council’s financial situation where larger councils are set up and can benefit from the economies of scale and avoid the costs of splitting up services.
Leicestershire County Council’s proposal would protect services, reduce confusion over who does what and give communities a stronger voice.
The county council says that bringing eight councils into one body would:
Early feedback showed good levels of support for the principles behind the idea, with more than 50 per cent of the respondents rating all nine values as fairly or very important. 95 per cent of respondents agreed that better public services were important.
The Government asked councils to submit initial proposals by 21 March and more detailed plans by November. A more wide-ranging consultation is set to take place over the summer, enabling residents, staff, partners and businesses to comment on a more detailed plan. This will be shared with the Government, and with district, city and Rutland councils.
The Government wants to move away from ‘two tier’ local government and asked councils to work up ideas for unitary local government which would lead to devolution from Government.
Read the council’s interim plan at: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/onecouncil.
Ends
Notes:
Direct link to the Interim Plan: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-03/Leicestershire-County-Council-Interim-Plan-March-2025.pdf
Media Team
Leicestershire County Council
County Hall, Glenfield, Leicestershire, LE3 8RA
Tel: 0116 305 6274 | Email:
Twitter: @leicscountyhall
leicestershire.gov.uk
Fresh budget proposals factor in major flood clean up
Multi-million-pound investment in supporting vulnerable people, fixing pot holes and tackling flooding, and a 4.99 per cent Council Tax rise, are set out in fresh budget proposals published by Leicestershire County Council.
The four-year plan lays out the tough situation facing councils and shows that rapidly rising demand for services, and inflation, is driving up costs by £218m. This compares to expected extra income and savings of £127m.
It earmarks around £100m more to support vulnerable children and adults and £12m extra to fix potholes and roads.
Following the devastating floods at New Year, it’s now proposed to invest £1m more in helping communities clean up and become flood-ready.
The cash would be used to undertake more investigations, designed to pinpoint the causes of flooding and identify any potential solutions, and to fund drainage repairs. Another half-a-million-pounds will also be spent by April to clear drains of flood debris and fix immediate damage.
It’s planned to use reserves to manage a small budget gap next year – by 2027, this gap is forecast to increase to £38m and rise to £91m by 2029.
Councillor Deborah Taylor, acting leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: “Our focus has to be managing what’s in our gift and remaining financially resilient. We’re investing big sums of money in supporting vulnerable people, directing as much as we can into services we know our residents value, such as mending pot holes, and supporting flood-hit communities.
“Flooding is heartbreaking for our residents and businesses, with many counting the costs for the second or third time in just a year. So it’s only right that we help them to recover and invest in bolstering communities’ resilience. But we need Government to grip the issue. We’ve written to the flooding minister calling to overhaul the national approach and we need action.”
The council’s yearly budget totals £616m – the authority is one of the biggest organisations in the county, spending around £10m every week on crucial services for Leicestershire residents.
Councillor Lee Breckon, cabinet member for resources, said: “The pressure on councils’ budgets is relentless. The National Living Wage and National Insurance changes alone add around £20m to our costs next year. This includes what we need to pay our care providers, which is not funded by Government.
“We’re lean, high-performing and low funded but continuing to do the best we can with the money we have. No one wants to increase Council Tax but without it, we’d have to make £20m more savings next year, and consultation feedback showed good support for our proposals.
“Thanks to taking tough decisions and planning ahead, we aren’t at the crisis point many other councils face. But we have reached a stage where it’s vital Government tackles the big issues driving our costs head on. And the extra money needed to provide services in a rural area has to be a focus.”
The proposals at a glance:
The cabinet will consider the updated proposals next Friday (7 February) before the budget is agreed at a full county council meeting on 19 February – watch online: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/webcast
Notes
The extra flooding money comes from the council’s service investment fund, designed to respond to immediate priorities.
Around 1,000 properties across the city, county and Rutland – including over 700 in Leicestershire – were hit by unprecedented floods in the New Year.
A consultation on the budget proposals ran from 18 December to 19 January.
Residents’ Council Tax bills include levies from district councils, police, fire and parish and town councils who all set their own budgets.
New stats reveal record breaking river levels
MEDIA RELEASE
16 January 2025
River levels hit their highest point since records began during last week’s devastating floods, as the number of flood-hit homes nears 900.
Agencies across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland continue to support residents and businesses affected by last week’s unprecedented floods after a month’s worth of rain fell in a couple of days.
David Turnbull, the Environment Agency’s flood risk manager, said: “This has been a major event. Heavy rainfall and snow melt has meant that flows in our rivers and tributaries were similar to Storm Henk and several exceeded their highest recorded levels.
“In some areas, the rainfall over 24 hours was more than double that seen during last year’s Storm Henk.
“Flooding can be devastating for people. We’ll continue to work with our partners to help communities be more resilient to flood risk. Initial estimates show that our defences prevented flooding to over 2,000 properties.”
Zafar Saleem, Leicestershire County Council assistant chief executive and chair of the partnership recovery group, said: “It’s too early to say what the exact reasons were. But we do know that we’ve seen levels of rainfall, snow melt and river flows like never before. This simply overwhelmed drainage, watercourses, and defences.
“For some people it’s the second time their homes and businesses have flooded within a year. People are understandably angry and worried about the future. As a partnership, we’re continuing to support local residents, but more needs to be done to tackle this national issue.
“This rainfall caused major flooding from the river network impacting so many communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
“Sadly, it’s not possible to fully defend all households against events like this which are happening more frequently across the country. We must continue to work together to help reduce the impact of flooding. This includes people being aware and prepared for floods.”
Last week, councils across Leicestershire and Rutland wrote to ministers asking for financial support and a shakeup of the national approach to flooding.
This week, council officers are visiting homes to provide support and advice. Councils and other agencies continue the clean-up operation, sweeping roads and collecting flood damaged property.
Residents affected by the floods are reminded of the support and advice available:
During the flooding:
Residents are urged to report flooding on the county council’s website or the city council’s website
Still time to comment on new budget plan
Don’t miss the chance to comment on a new four-year budget plan, residents are being urged.
Leicestershire County Council is consulting on proposals which show that rapidly rising demand for services, and inflation, are increasing costs by £217m. This compares to expected extra income and savings of £122m.
People have until 19 January to have their say on the plan which includes earmarking just under £100m more to support vulnerable children and adults, £12m more to fix potholes and repair roads and a 4.99 per cent Council Tax increase.
The authority is set to balance the books next year by using reserves to manage a small gap. By 2027, this gap is forecast to increase to £42m and rise to £95m by 2029.
Councillor Lee Breckon, cabinet member for resources, said: “There’s just under two weeks left to give your feedback. We deliver over 400 services which impact everyone’s lives so don’t miss out on having your say.”
The council’s yearly budget totals £616m – the authority is one of the biggest organisations in the county, spending around £10m every week on crucial services for Leicestershire residents.
Lee Breckon added: “Unlike many other councils, we’re not at crisis point. Tough decisions and major re-designs of services have stood us in good stead and are bringing down costs.
“But pressure on local government is continually ramping up. With three-quarters of our budget now spent on supporting vulnerable people, we need the Government to tackle the big issues.
“Council Tax remains our most important source of income. No one wants to ask residents to pay more but without it, we couldn’t deliver the services we know our residents rely on.”
The consultation is open until 19 January: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/budget
The proposals at a glance:
Notes
All feedback will help to shape the final budget proposals. The council’s final budget is agreed at a full county council meeting in February.
Residents’ Council Tax bills include levies from district councils, police, fire and parish and town councils who all set their own budgets.
Leicestershire County Council: Government urged to ‘tackle big issues’ for local government funding
11 December 2024
PR 11576
Government urged to ‘tackle big issues’ for local government funding
A firm grip on finances in the face of spiralling costs, is why Leicestershire County Council hasn’t hit crisis point, says the authority as it publishes a new budget plan.
The four-year proposals reveal rapidly rising demand for services, and inflation, are increasing costs by £217m, compared to expected extra income and savings of £122m.
A combination of innovative initiatives and a reduced back office – which are both driving down costs by £33m – plus a Council Tax rise, means the books will balance next year but relentless pressure on services could create a £95m budget gap by 2029.
The plan includes earmarking just under £100m more to support vulnerable children and adults. An extra £12m of capital is also proposed to help fix potholes and repair roads, taking the total spend on roads, major schemes and tackling flooding to £125m over four years.
A proposed 4.99 per cent Council Tax increase from April (including 2 per cent for adult social care) will increase bills by £1.54 a week for a band D house. Generating £20m, it only covers the National Living Wage and National Insurance rises.
Acting council leader, Councillor Deborah Taylor, said: “Our financial position remains extremely challenging, although the strong grip we’ve maintained over our finances has ensured we are not at crisis point.
“I’m proud that pioneering work to drive down costs is paying off but the stark reality is that surging demand is not receding.
“This squeezes what we can spend elsewhere but we’re still fixing 7,300 potholes a year, supporting over 1,000 households to stay warm, gritting 1,300 miles of road each night during winter, and much more.
“That’s why it’s vital an overhaul of local government funding tackles the big issues. A focus purely on deprivation will disadvantage rural counties.”
Key budget pressures include:
Councillor Lee Breckon, cabinet member for resources, said: “Despite being the lowest funded county, we’re high performing. And have saved £276m since 2010, showing how efficient and lean we are.
“We heavily rely on Council Tax to fund vital services. I know wallets are stretched but without an increase, we couldn’t deliver the level of service we know our residents need.
“Twenty-million-pounds sounds a lot but is wiped out by the National Living Wage and National Insurance rises. The ‘new’ money the Government announced for councils doesn’t shift the dial – and won’t cover all the extra costs from the autumn budget.
“The funding system must change to benefit low funded councils. If we were funded at same level as neighbours Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, we’d have around £100m more each year, and this can’t be right.”
Pioneering projects helping the council to make ends meet include:
Tune in online next Tuesday (17 December) to hear the council’s cabinet discuss the proposals: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/webcast
A consultation on the plan is set to launch on 18 December.
Notes
The council’s yearly budget totals £616m – the authority is one of the biggest organisations in Leicestershire, spending around £10m every week on crucial services for Leicestershire residents.
District councils, police, fire and parish and town councils all make up portions of residents’ total Council Tax bills.
The proposals at a glance:
Community Awards from Blaby District Council
A message from Blaby District Council:
I am delighted to let you know that our Community Awards are running again this year and that nominations are now open! The awards recognise and celebrate the contribution and achievements of individual volunteers and voluntary sector organisations that serve Blaby district. There are three award categories:
Nominations will close at midnight on Sunday 10 November 2024 after which individual winners will be decided by a judging panel and the Community Group of the Year will be decided by a public vote. Thanks to this year’s sponsors – Everyone Active, Central Co-op and the Love Blaby Lottery – we can offer cash prizes for our deserving winners and runners-up and host a special awards ceremony in January. More details, including the entry criteria, and the online nomination form are available at Community Awards 2024 – Blaby District Council
I would be really grateful if you could help to raise awareness of the Community Awards through your networks and keep an eye out on our social media channels to help share posts on your feeds (Blaby District | Leicester | Facebook and https://twitter.com/BlabyDC). A press release will also follow soon. It would be great to reach as wide an audience as possible in order to receive individual and group nominations from across the whole district. You are, of course, welcome to nominate too. If you have any queries or requests for a paper or email version of the nomination form, please contact
Many thanks in advance for your support.
Property Flood Resilience Grant
If you have experienced internal flooding to your home or business during Storm Babet (October 2023) or Storm Henk (January 2024), you may be eligible for a grant of up to £5,000 (inclusive of VAT) through the Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Repair Grant Scheme.
To see if you are eligible have a look at the information on our website.https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/flooding-and-drainage/property-flood-resilience-repair-grant
Flooding – Blaby District 26 Sept 24
We have our flooding pages on the website and are putting messages out on our social media channels. Flooding – Blaby District Council.
There have been evacuations from properties but so far nobody has required housing and/or a rest centre being established but we will review this throughout the evening.We will keep you up to date with information and impacts
Tourism growth success
Visitor spend across Blaby District has smashed the target set by the Council in its bid to make the area one of Leicestershire’s leading, most welcoming and sustainable tourism destinations.
In Blaby District Council’s current Tourism Growth Plan one aim was to increase the value of tourism by £50 million on 2016’s baseline level of £159 million.Latest figures for 2023 show this target has easily been surpassed with visitor spend at an impressive £217 million.
The growth in tourism spend is proving to be a springboard for wider economic prosperity across the District. Spend on accommodation, recreation and food and drink have seen the biggest rises. There has also been a significant increase in employment numbers despite difficulties faced by the sector.
The other two main aims in the Tourism Growth Plan are to, by 2025, increase the number of visitors by 1.3 million – to 4.6 million and increase the number of tourism jobs by 40% to 2,770. As of the end of 2023 visitor figures were at 3.04 million and there were 2,508 jobs.
As the existing Growth Plan ends the Council has started planning for 2025-2030. This includes a review of progress to date and consultation within the Council, the Tourism Partnership and key stakeholders, ready to launch in the new plan next year.
Councillor Cheryl Cashmore, Blaby District Council Portfolio Holder for Health, Leisure, Climate and Economic Development, said: “We are delighted with the progress being made, especially since the latest data shows a strong recovery post-Covid in all areas. In particular it’s fantastic to see the growth in the value of tourism, surpassing our ambitious target already.
“Our Tourism Growth Plan plays a vital role in moving forward the over-riding Blaby District Plan 2024-2028. It helps achieve our vision for Blaby District to be a great place to visit. It is also key to our priorities for ‘growing and supporting our economy’ and ‘keeping you safe and healthy’, by increasing visitor numbers, spend and employment in the District.
“It will also play a pivotal role in the Active Travel Strategy, Community, Health and Well-being Plan and the Economic Development Framework, making Blaby District a welcoming and sustainable tourism destination for residents and visitors.”
19 September 2024
Best regards
Karen Almond
Communications and Consultation Officer
Communications
Blaby District Council
Mobile: 07787 947674
Telephone: 0116 272 7577
www.blaby.gov.uk