Rushton defiant as councils and MPs unite against plans
THE leader of Leicestershire County Council is refusing to bow to pressure from MPs who are united in their opposition to plans for a major local government shake-up.
A letter has been sent to Councillor Nick Rushton asking him to shelve plans to create a unitary authority from Leicestershire County Council and the county’s borough and district councils.
The letter also calls for no more public funds to be spent on exploring the restructure.
Coun Rushton is thought to have been told that now is not the time to carry out a review in a joint letter from Edward Argar, Andrew Bridgen, Alberto Costa, Alan Duncan, David Tredinnick, Nicky Morgan and Neil O’Brien.
It was apparently sent following discussions between the seven MPs and James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The Government will need to approve any changes to council structures.
The leaders of Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby and Wigston councils issued a joint statement in response to the letter.
It said: “We would like to thank the Leicestershire MPs for their joint letter to all district and county council leaders following their meeting with the Secretary of State to discuss our proposed review of the current model of local government in Leicestershire and the county council’s promotion of structural reform of local government.
“The conclusion of the MPs, supported by the Secretary of State, that no such change is necessary and work towards it should cease immediately, reinforces what the districts have previously stated, that local authority structural reform will only happen if all parties are working together and in agreement.
“We understand and respect their concerns and therefore the district councils will not be pursuing any proposals for structural change.
“Districts have always worked together and we will continue to collaborate with all partners in order to deliver the best possible services to residents.”
Borough and county councillor David Bill (Lib Dem) said: “In any rational world this would be the end of the matter.
“The districts and boroughs have said no. The MPs have said no and even the Minister involved has said no - he told me so himself some months ago - and yet the county council is pressing on with its extensive and expensive consultation exercise as if nothing is happening.
“It really would be in everyone’s interests for the Conservatives to get their act together and stop wasting our time and money.”
But Coun Rushton, who first tabled the plans in June, has refused to step away from the proposals and said he looked forward to hearing what taxpayers think.
He said: “I am disappointed that the Leicestershire MPs have come to these conclusions so early in this process. We have just started the conversation and it’s too soon to draw the debate to a close.
“I understand that this is a difficult topic and we are challenging the status quo. But we face serious financial challenges here and we cannot simply reject ideas which could potentially save many millions for the people of Leicestershire without the proper discussion.”
Coun Rushton said the cost of investigations into a unitary authority had been absorbed by existing budgets.
Councillor Simon Galton, leader of the Lib Dem opposition at Melton Borough Council, has cancelled an extraordinary council meeting to discuss the plans that was scheduled for November 13.