Harborough Joins Legal Challenge Over Council Shake-Up

Harborough District Council is joining a legal challenge against plans to reorganise local government in Leicestershire.

Seven district and borough councils have filed for a judicial review, arguing the government’sdecision was unlawful and lacked proper consultation.

The plans, currently on hold, would see parts of Harborough district absorbed into Leicester, with the rest joining a new authority covering Leicestershire and Rutland, with current councils abolished.

There is mass opposition to the plan to expand the city’s boundaries.

Harborough District Council leader Simon Whelband said any decision of this scale must be “properly evidenced, lawful and in the best interests of the communities it affects”.

He said the councils had waited as long as statutory timeframes allowed to give the government an opportunity to withdraw its decision, but had still received no clarity on what the pause to the reorganisation process meant.

Mr Whelband said the council was taking legal action to protect its position and “stand up for the residents, businesses and partners who have raised serious concerns”.

The councils argue the government failed to properly consider the impact on local people and the costs involved, and that there was not sufficient justification for the boundary changes.

Cllr Phil Knowles, leader of the opposition at HDC, has backed the move:

Leicestershire County Council has launched similar legal action.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for comment.