Harborough pens joint letter to Government over Leicestershire reorganisation plans
A joint letter has been sent to the Government by five councils, including Harborough, over plans to reorganise the city and county boundaries in Leicestershire.
The letter is the first formal step taken by the councils in considering a legal challenge against the decision to expand Leicester city and get rid of the two-tier council system in the county.
The Local Government Reorganisation plans are paused after severe backlash, but the councils claim they must act now to protect their legal position.
Harborough District Council along with Blaby District Council, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, North West Leicestershire District Council and Oadby and Wigston Borough Council say they recognise the significant public concern after the announcement of the government’s proposals and its impact on rural and semi-rural communities.
A consultation commissioned by the Government showed the strength of opposition to the expansion of the city boundary, with only seven per cent of respondents expressing a positive view of the Leicester City Council plan.
The councils will look at the Government’s response carefully before deciding whether to proceed with a legal challenge.
The five authorities have also confirmed that they will continue to liaise closely with county council colleagues, who have also started their own pre-action process.