Meanwhile, city and council leaders are at odds over what financial model plan actually means

THE leaders of the city council and county council are at odds once again over the proposed expansion of the city’s borders into county areas, writes Hannah Robinson.

- By HARRY TAYLOR

posed city boundaries

The two councils jointly commissioned financial modelling into the potential impacts of a larger city of Leicester, but they now disagree on what the completed work actually reveals.

Dan Harrison, the leader of Leicestershire County Council, claimed the modelling showed any new county authority would not be “able to survive” if Leicester is allowed to take ground from the county.

He said that accepting any such expansion would, as a result, be “unforgivable” from a Leicestershire perspective and vowed to fight against this.

However, city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby claimed the figures actually show “completely the opposite” — that an expanded city, providing “balanced population’ levels” for both Leicester and Leicestershire, would be “in everybody's interest’.

He said he believed Coun Harrison was now opposing the proposed new borders because he was “under enormous political pressure” from opposition groups on the county council to do so.

The fresh disagreement comes as the November deadline for councils to submit their plans for local government restructure to Westminster looms ever closer.

The government has called on two-tier areas - such as Leicestershire, where the county council shares responsibilities with the districts and boroughs - to simplify these into a single-tier of governance.

As part of the proposed restructure, Leicester City Council is seeking to extend its borders into the county, with Sir Peter having previously said this is needed for Leicester to be able to balance its books and meet its housing targets.

Among the areas being eyed up to join the city are Glenfield, Oadby, Wigston, Blaby, Whetstone, Syston, Anstey, Leicester Forest East, Birstall, Kirby Muxloe, Thurmaston and Countesthorpe.