The consultation can be accessed via the Government’s national GOV.UK website, here: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-government-reorganisation-in-leicestershire-leicester-and-rutland/proposals-for-local-government-reorganisation-in-leicestershire-leicester-and-rutland
The consultation closes at 11.59pm on 26 March 2026
Over the seven-week consultation period, the Government will be seeking views on three options for reorganising the existing 10 councils in LLR into a smaller number of unitary councils:
- Two councils with an expanded Leicester City boundary and a single council for the rest of Leicestershire and Rutland (proposed by Leicester City Council).
- Two councils with one single council for Leicestershire and Rutland, and one for Leicester on its existing boundary (proposed by Leicestershire County Council).
- Three councils – one for north Leicestershire and Rutland, one for south Leicestershire, and one for Leicester on its existing boundary. This is the North, City, South proposal (proposed by the seven district and borough councils and Rutland County Council).
How to take part
The consultation asks respondents to indicate the extent to which they agree with these proposals, in the following categories:
- Sensible geographies and economic areas
- Councils being able to deliver the outcomes they describe in the proposal
- Councils being the right size to be efficient, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks
- Councils being able to deliver high quality, sustainable public services
- Whether the proposal has been informed by local views and will meet local needs
- Whether the proposal will support devolution arrangements
- Whether the proposal enables stronger community engagement and gives the opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment
Again, you can find out more information and take part in the consultation by visiting: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-government-reorganisation-in-leicestershire-leicester-and-rutland/proposals-for-local-government-reorganisation-in-leicestershire-leicester-and-rutland
Next steps
This information is being made available on the Rutland County Council website, through our local media contacts and shared directly with key stakeholders. We would be grateful if you could also share details with your councillors and local residents.
We expect to hear from Government with its decision on its chosen structure in July this year. We will continue to provide further updates throughout the consultation period and beyond.