Dissolving councils would marginalise residents
County council leader wants to create a single council for county
DISSOLVING the county’s district councils into a single authority could marginalise Hinckley, a councillor has warned.
The proposal to dissolve the seven boroughs and districts of Leicestershire and create a single unitary authority was raised again at a meeting of Leicestershire County Council.
Nick Rushton, leader of the county council, referred to wanting to create the super-council.
Hinckley Lib Dem county councillor Michael Mullaney is among those who oppose the plans.
He said: “The leader of the county council’s statement said he wants to create a single council for Leicestershire. We are a huge diverse county.
“Leicestershire has a population of an estimated 700,000 people across rural and urban areas.
“The idea that such a huge varied population can be adequately represented by one authority is mistaken.
“I worry that areas like my own in Hinckley on the edge of the county would be marginalised under such a new arrangement.”
Cllr Mullaney also said that now is bad time to abolish the district
acouncils, as this would create enormous disruption as we emerge from the Covid-19 crisis.
He said: “The key to Leicestershire going forward is not a disruptive plan to abolish local borough and district Councils, the way forward is for the Conservative Government to deliver fair funding for Leicestershire.
“Leicestershire is the worst funded county by the Tory Government in the country, this means we are all losing out.
“In addition, Leicestershire county’s economy is likely to take a local hit by the fact large parts of Leicestershire county, like Oadby and Wigston, have been brought into the Leicester lockdown, which is likely to make our economic situation worse locally.”
Simon Galton, leader of Leicestershire Liberal Democrat county councillors, said: “It was quite extraordinary that the leader of the council chose to raise the matter at the first council meeting since February.
“All available resources at the council’s disposal are currently engaged in responding to coronavirus.
“The period during a lockdown is not the right time to be considering changing the structure of local government in the county.”