County council votes against expanded city boundary

A Conservative-led protest took place outside County Hall before the debate on Wednesday

County councillors have voted for a motion opposing any future expansion of Leicester's political boundaries.

The city's Labour mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has proposed a new political map which would see its boundaries move outwards to take in towns and villages currently served by neighbouring district councils.

The idea is one of three potential options to be considered by the government, which wants to end the existing two-tier council system in England, and create new authorities with greater devolved powers.

However, at a special meeting on Wednesday, members of Leicestershire County Council voted by 23 to 22 to oppose a city expansion.

Soulsby said he was disappointed by the result of the vote but that he hoped to continue having constructive discussions with the county council before making final submissions on future boundaries to ministers in November.

The pink-shaded area of the map shows the extent of the proposed new city boundary

The motion was proposed by the county council's Tory opposition group.

Tory group leader Deborah Taylor said the proposed expansion ignored the views of residents who could find themselves incorporated in a greater Leicester.

"Many of our residents moved out of the city into the county and they certainly have no wish to be moved back into the city against their will.

"This is about land grabbing and council tax payers to prop up a failing city council."

She said residents feared their council tax would rise and services would decline should they become part of the city.

The county council's Reform UK leader Dan Harrison described the Tory motion as "grandstanding and waving flags" but added he thought the city boundary would ultimately expand.

"There's a lot of hype, there's a lot of talk," he added.

"I am trying to defend our future.

"[The Tories] would say just sit back and let government decide but believe me with a Labour mayor and a Labour minister - who would get the best deal out of that?

"We are trying to negotiate, talk and have realistic conversations."

Harrison said modelling was now being done with the aim of getting a clearer picture of future plans by September.

Reform UK, which runs the council as a minority administration, proposed having a referendum on local government reorganisation but the move was voted down by 24 votes to 22.

Before the meeting, about 40 residents had joined Tory councillors in a protest outside County Hall.

District proposals feature Leicester city, North Leicestershire and Rutland and South Leicestershire

Under its proposal, the city council said Leicester's current population of 372,000 would increase to 623,000 by 2028.

Soulsby told the BBC: "In private, all political groups accept the case for extending the city boundary is overwhelming.

"It would unlock devolution and help meet the city's housing needs.

"I've said to Dan Harrison, and the county council, we have to work with them to get a model for appropriate city boundaries.

"I do understand why people may have concerns but council tax would not be hiked.

"They would not be taken over. It's about becoming part of another council over which they would have considerable influence."

Leicestershire County Council proposes one council for Leicestershire "reducing duplication and simplifying local government"

The city council has proposed the rest of Leicestershire and Rutland should fall under a single council serving a population of 578,000.

Leicestershire County Council has already outlined proposals to create one unitary authority for the whole county - replacing itself and the districts and boroughs - sitting around the city's current boundaries.

The districts' favoured model is for three unitary councils across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

A North Leicestershire and Rutland council would serve the area currently covered by Charnwood borough, North West Leicestershire district, Melton borough and Rutland County Council.

A separate South Leicestershire council would cover the areas of Blaby district, Harborough district, Hinckley and Bosworth borough and Oadby and Wigston borough councils.

Leicester city would remain unchanged.

Authorities are proposing more public engagement in the summer, as final proposals for local government reform must be submitted by 28 November 2025.