Government Proposals to Scrap District Councils Alicia Kearns - Rutland Public Meeting, Harborough and South Kesteven : Petition and Survey
Alicia Kearns
Member of Parliament for Rutland and Stamford
The Government has announced plans for major reforms to Local Councils and local democracy. They intend to scrap district councils like Harborough District Council, as well as scrapping small unitary councils like Rutland. In their place they want to create new enormous unitary county councils which serve a minimum of 500,000 people – compare this for example to Rutland County Council which currently serves 41,000 residents, or South Kesteven District Council which serves around 145,000 residents.
What is frustrating about all of this, is that the speed at which Government is moving is not creating the space for public discussion, intensive analysis, or even for Councils to truly consider what might be best for our communities. For example, should South Kesteven and Rutland have had an opportunity to propose a new joint council? I want to make sure everyone is as informed as possible, and crucially to hear your views so I can represent them to Government.
The process for each of our three counties is distinctly different as the Government is also pursuing Devolution deals alongside Local Government reform. Please find below information for each of our areas, depending on where you live.
Rutland: Public Meeting
I will be holding a public meeting on Monday 27th January 6 – 7.30pm at the Victoria Hall in Oakham to explain the process as I understand it so far, to map out the Government’s thinking, what the implications for us would be, what different stakeholders are proposing, and most importantly give me a chance to hear your views given how significant this re-organisation could be for our county. I will very much be in listening mode.
There has been no consultation with our community on the proposals, so I want to ensure Rutlanders have the opportunity to discuss the proposals and for me to hear from you. I won’t have all the answers on the night, but it can kick off our discussions which will continue throughout this process.
We will also discuss if Rutland is forced to lose its independence as a county council and join Leicestershire County Council, should the new Leicestershire and Rutland Council (it may not have Rutland in its name) be one unitary county council for the entirety of Leicestershire and Rutland, or whether it should be two councils (Rutland, East and West Leicestershire; or North and South Leicestershire).
If you wish to attend the public meeting please register via the link below:
Harborough: Petition and Survey
The biggest issues for Harborough are to stop Leicester’s takeover of our rural communities and whether Leicestershire should be one, single Council or two.
As part of the Government’s move to new mega-Councils the Mayor of Leicester, Peter Soulsby, wants to bring surrounding areas of Leicester - like Harborough - under the control of Leicester City Council. Disappointingly it looks like the County Council agrees.
These proposals primarily would allow the City to build its housing requirements within our Harborough villages, because those villages would now fall under the City, you would come under their policies and priorities which are city-centric, and your council taxes would also likely rise to meet the city’s higher taxes.
Neighbouring Harborough MP Neil O’Brien and I have started a petition calling on local County Councillors to listen and say no to the City taking over surrounding areas. We will present it to Government and the County Council.
Please do add your name to our petition here.
I will be speaking to the County Council this week I hope, and will look to hold a public meeting in future months depending on how the process goes forward and what the process is looking like for our communities.
Beyond the proposals for the city to absorb some rural communities, a decision will be made on whether our communities should be served by one unitary county council for the entire Shire, or whether it should be two councils (Rutland, East and West Leicestershire; or Rutland, North and South Leicestershire). I have my own view on this, but I would like to hear yours. So far it appears the District Councils of Leicestershire would prefer two Councils (excluding the City which would be its own unitary authority), and the County Council would prefer one large Council covering all of Leicestershire (again excluding the City).
If you live in our Harborough villages, I would very much welcome your views on whether Leicestershire should have one County Council covering our entire county or two unitary Councils – and which way should it split geographically? Maintaining the status quo is not an option we’ve been given by Government. Tell me your views here.
South Kesteven
In Lincolnshire it has been agreed that a mayoralty will be introduced, and as such Local Government reform is taking a back-step to that process as that is the Government’s priority.
Currently, because the Lincolnshire Mayoralty process is in train, there is less controversy at this point, and we have less information about how Lincolnshire might proceed – but the information I have suggests two unitary councils may be formed. One with the City of Lincoln all the way down to our communities in South Kesteven and Stamford, and a second unitary for the North of our county. This is in some ways less controversial, however it is still a big change in local democracy and a bringing together of city and rural areas under one Council.
As soon as I have more information on the proposals and how they will impact on us I will share it with you and we can ascertain whether we need a public meeting, a petition or any other actions I may need to take to make sure your voices are heard.
Alicia Kearns
Member of Parliament for Rutland and Stamford
Promoted by: Michael Rickman on behalf of Alicia Kearns,
both at 6 Market Square, Oakham, LE15 6DY
