Ministers 'ignored' public over city expansion - MPs

The government has been accused of ignoring public opinion on controversial plans to extend Leicester into neighbouring towns and villages.

Earlier this month, it was announced that plans to extend the city's boundary in all directions, absorbing areas currently served by neighbouring councils, would go ahead.

Since then, the government has released the results of a consultation revealing only 7% of respondents said they felt positive about creating a larger city local authority, while 87% said they felt negative about it.

Leicestershire's Tory MPs said it proved ministers ignored public opinion and were forcing unwanted change on voters.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said local people's views played a part in the decision but were taken alongside other important factors.

The consultation took place in February and March this year and there were 6,615 responses.

Conservative MP for South Leicestershire Alberto Costa said: "These consultation results show the expanded city option is incredibly unpopular.

"What the government has done is overridden public opinion in a manifestly unreasonable way.

"It has completely ignored what people told them."

Costa said he felt there were grounds to consider launching a judicial review - a legal challenge - to the government's decision.

"When the government carries out a consultation it is meant to be a meaningful process," he said.

"The government does not appear to have paid the slightest attention to what people told them in consultation."

Costa said more than 7,000 people had signed a petition he started opposing the move.

Other Leicestershire Tory MPs have started similar petitions, which they will present to parliament when it returns from its summer recess.

An MHCLG spokesperson said: "Decisions were considered on a case-by-case basis against published criteria.

"It clearly stated local people's views would play a part, but were also taken alongside other important factors, such as the creation of strong and sustainable councils and better value for money for taxpayers.

"Ultimately reorganisation in Leicestershire will help communities by speeding up the construction of new homes and infrastructure, improving public services and boosting regional growth to put more money in people's pockets."

Steve Reed, former Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has been replaced by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham since making the announcement.

However, before he was sacked, he wrote to Leicestershire council leaders, saying: "I judge that there is a strong public services and financial sustainability-related justification for the boundary change.

"It strengthens alignment with the functional economic area and geography, improves the city's ability to support housing delivery at scale, and provides a clearer governance footprint for strategic growth and devolution."

Leicester's Labour mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said expanding the city made sense and was a move that was long overdue.

The consultation results further revealed a proposal to keep the city's current boundary in place and surround it with two unitary councils, one in the north of the county and one to the south, was the most popular choice, with 70% of respondents saying they were positive about the idea, compared with 21% who were against it.

A third proposal, from the Reform-led Leicestershire County Council, saw 54% of respondents say they were negative about it and 35% positive.

The government has announced the enlarged city would be served by a new authority called Leicester Council.

Under the move, the rest of the county and Rutland will be served by a single unitary council called Leicestershire and Rutland Council.

Expanding the city has proved controversial with Reform, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green politicians in the county.

An emergency meeting will take place on Thursday at Leicestershire County Council to debate a Liberal Democrat motion opposing the expansion.

The motion argues hundreds of thousands of county residents will be dragged "against their will" into the city and urges the government to go back to the drawing board.

Dan Harrison, Reform leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: "We remain disappointed by the decision.

"But in the meantime, our professional officers will continue to work constructively with partners across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to help shape the future arrangements and ensure that the best possible services continue to be delivered for our communities."

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