Charnwood Borough Council statement on devolution plans

Read the full statement from Charnwood Borough Council after the Government announced plans for it to become part of Leicester City.

Cllr Jewel Miah, Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, has issued a statement following the Government's decision on local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Government has decided that from April 2028 there will be two unitary councils to deliver all services to residents in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Those councils will be:

• A unitary council covering Leicester, Oadby and Wigston and parts of Blaby, Charnwood, and Harborough
• A unitary council for the remaining area of Leicestershire and Rutland

Cllr Jewel Miah said:

“The Government has not accepted the district and borough councils' preferred option for three unitary councils, but has instead decided to go with the Leicester City proposal to expand the City to form one unitary council and the remainder of Leicestershire and Rutland to form a new larger outer unitary authority.

“With the decision made, it will take time to fully understand the implications, and I will work with other Leaders in Leicestershire and the City on moving forward with the re-organisation.

“Bringing council services together will be a complex and challenging task, but I would like to reassure our communities that Charnwood Borough Council will continue to deliver services to the high standards residents expect while safeguarding their best interests.”

“As Leicestershire County Council will cease to exist and the existing County Hall buildings are moving within the new City boundary, the centre of gravity for the population of Leicestershire is now Loughborough, so this is the natural home for the new administrative centre of the outer unitary authority.”