Leicester, Nottingham plan major boundary expansions

Leicester's mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, has proposed an expansion of the city's political boundaries to include suburban areas from neighbouring councils, aiming to increase the population from 372,000 to 623,000 by 2028. This plan is part of a government initiative to streamline local governance across England. In Nottingham, the City Council is also considering structural changes, advocating for a merger with two neighbouring councils despite projected costs being £8 million higher than maintaining the current structure. Council leader Neghat Khan supports this 'Nottingham + 2' model, citing the city's under-bounded status and the need for effective service delivery to a larger population. Councils have until March 21 to submit proposals, with final plans due in November, as they seek to address the imbalances in representation and service provision. Both cities are navigating this reorganization in response to the government's push for fewer, more efficient local authorities.