By Local Democracy & Public Affairs Reporter for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, not affiliated to the BBC LDRS
Local Leadership Sounds Alarm Over Imposed Council Merger
The landscape of local government in the East Midlands is set for a historic transformation following the Government’s announcement that Rutland will be merged into a new, larger unitary authority. Effective from April 2028, the current Rutland County Council will be replaced by a regional structure that combines the county with the remaining areas of Leicestershire, excluding an expanded Leicester City.
While national officials frame the move as a necessary step toward streamlined, efficient governance, the decision has met with fierce resistance from local leaders who fear the move will silence the voice of England's smallest county.
The merger comes after months of uncertainty and intense campaigning by residents and representatives to preserve Rutland’s unique status.
Cllr Martin Brookes, Chairman of Oakham Town Council, is a vocal critic of the plan. Echoing the sentiments of many in the community, Martin Brookes argued that Rutland has long been treated as a "poor relation" by regional service providers, such as Leicestershire Police and the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. He expressed deep skepticism that this new, larger council structure would resolve historic funding inequities, warning that Rutland risks being sidelined by a distant authority that lacks a granular understanding of the county's specific needs.
The frustration extends to the national level, with MP for Rutland and Stamford, Alicia Kearns, describing the Government's decision as "the worst outcome on the table". Kearns has been a central figure in the fight against the merger, leading public meetings and presenting a petition signed by over 7,000 residents to Parliament in a bid to save the county's independent administrative status. She warned that the reorganisation threatens to "entrench a neglect" that could see Rutland treated as a "cash cow" for the benefit of its larger neighbours.
The Government’s reorganisation mandate aims to end the two-tier system by creating larger unitary authorities that can drive economic growth and improve service capacity. However, the shift poses significant practical challenges for local bodies.
While some have suggested that Oakham Town Council could absorb certain responsibilities currently held by the County Council, Chairman Martin Brookes has moved to manage those expectations firmly.
He stated that the Town Council is currently in no position to take on additional duties and cautioned that any such transfer would inevitably result in higher local taxation for residents.
As the county looks toward the 2028 implementation deadline, the focus for local leaders has shifted to damage limitation.
While the Government maintains that reorganisation will help simplify governance and improve public services, the mood in Oakham remains one of apprehension.
For now, local representatives have vowed to continue their scrutiny of the transition process, intent on ensuring that even as the administrative structure changes, the distinct identity and interests of Rutland are not entirely lost to its larger partners.
Statement from Cllr Martin Brookes, Chairman of Oakham Town Council, Oakham The County Town of Rutland.
"The Government’s announcement that Rutland is to be merged into a new unitary authority alongside Leicestershire is profoundly disappointing. For too long, Oakham and Rutland have been treated as the 'poor relation' to our larger neighbours. Our experience with regionalised services including the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicestershire Police, and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue has consistently shown that Rutland is viewed as a distant neighbour, often resulting in what many perceive as unfair funding and a lack of proper attention to our specific needs.
For years, Rutland County Council have managed the consequences of inequitable funding from central government, and I have no reason to believe that a new, larger Leicestershire and Rutland council will treat us any differently. The very definition of 'local' government is that it should be close to the people it serves, yet I highly doubt the headquarters of this new authority will be anywhere near Rutland.
There has been much discussion regarding the potential for Oakham Town Council to take on additional responsibilities from the outgoing County Council. I must be clear while the town council are working hard to make improvements, in my professional assessment, this Council is currently in no fit state to absorb further responsibilities. Any such move would inevitably lead to a significant increase in local taxation for our residents. My priority remains, as it always has been, to ensure that this Council becomes truly fit for purpose before any consideration of expanded roles."
