Councillor Richard Blunt, is among a group of council leaders across Leicestershire who have made it clear they have concerns about proposals to create a single unitary council for the county.

The leaders say that they are disappointed that a statement relating to local government reorganisation was issued by Leicestershire County Council without notice and without consultation.

The County Council said yesterday (Thursday) that it has requested a 12-month postponement of this year's planned May local elections.

North West Leicestershire District Council leader, Cllr Blunt, was part of the joint statement which reads: "As local leaders, we are closest to our communities and have a responsibility to ensure local voices are heard and properly considered in any reorganisation of local government. 

"A single unitary council over a wide and diverse geographic area, which is being proposed without proper consultation, has the potential to be too remote, and inaccessible, from the communities we serve. We must keep the local in local government.

"As leaders, we acknowledge the government's white paper sets a clear direction of travel, but it must be properly considered, evidence-led and ensure that residents and businesses are fully engaged in shaping the future local government of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire County Council offices at Glenfield. Photo: Instantstreetview.com

"We are open to exploring all options, but have not agreed any boundary changes, and are clear that any changes must be based on evidence which gets the right balance between scale and physical geography.

"Any boundary changes would also have to be limited and balanced. Councils perform best when boundaries reflect the way people live their lives.

 "We believe there are credible alternatives to a large single unitary, which will facilitate a better sense of place, deliver savings, boost regional growth and provide better outcomes for our residents and businesses.

 "We want to work collaboratively with all our local authority partners to agree on how best to reshape local government within our area. We have written to the government to confirm that we are keen to work with them and that we expect our propositions to be taken seriously. There is simply too much at stake to have a change railroaded through."

Deputy leader, Cllr Michael Wyatt added: "I totally oppose the County request to postpone elections.

"There is no consensus within Leicestershire to scrap the current system which works."

At yesterday's North West Leicestershire District Council Cabinet meeting, Cllr Wyatt said: "I'm extremely angry about the devolution plans that this government have pulled out of someone's fag packet. 

"The government's idea of scrapping the two-tier system has Nothing to do with Democracy and it's nothing to do with improving service or cutting red tape.

Cllr Michael Wyatt. Photo: Ashby Nub News

"It's about politics and creating a bloated out of reach for everyday person an organisation which is less accountable, more expensive and politically controlled by the national government which does not have a mandate to destroy what we have in Leicestershire and that's a system which works, it's accountable and delivers good localised services. 

"Most people will know I've been one of the most critical members on this council but I agree with the majority of Local people that we do not want to be part of Hinckley and Bosworth or Loughborough or Melton or Harborough all they want is a local council like north west Leicestershire delivering good quality services and being accountable and accessible. 

"Mr chairman Big is never good you only have to look at the current government."