District Councils Network
Government can abandon or change levelling up missions
The Government is leaving open the possibility of abandoning or changing the White Paper's levelling up missions, and can delay reporting on them until after the general election.
Leaning in to leadership in districts
The DCN staff development programme has been relaunched after a pause during COVID. Bill Cullen sets out why we must nurture the next generation of council rising stars, while current and former participants talk about what they’ve gained.
New Natural England advice is a big deal
A letter informing councils of advice from Natural England on requirements to mitigate nutrient pollution in protected sites is a big deal, says chairman of the District Councils’ Network, Sam Chapman-Allen.
EXCLUSIVE: Porter warning over fresh reorganisation push
Some district councils may seek unitary status to ensure they can influence the new wave of combined authorities, a senior Conservative councillor has warned.
Districts call to work with counties on devolution
Districts have issued a call to work alongside counties in devolution.
On the level?
Has the Levelling Up White Paper failed to create the shared ambition across tiers of local government that’s needed to advance places’ prosperity? Martin Ford reports.
Supporting residents through the cost of living crisis
In the face of a looming cost of living crisis, 'district councils in particular are putting all hands on deck to steer our communities through the storm we’re confronted with', says chairman of the District Councils' Network Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen.
EXCLUSIVE: DCN plans fee hike to fund 'ambitious' expansion
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is planning a membership fee hike to increase its influence and fund an ‘ambitious’ expansion of its campaigning activity.
District warning over parish push
Making it easier to establish town and parish councils could be a ‘recipe for confusion, higher costs and slowing down the transformation of public services,’ the District Councils’ Network (DCN) has warned.
EXCLUSIVE: Districts down over levelling up details
Disappointed district councils will make their case to the Government next week after the Levelling Up White Paper sidelined them from devolution plans.
Government sign-off required to 'unlock' UKSPF
Councils will have to draw up investment plans to access the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), the Government has revealed.
County Deals approach falls far short of treating districts as equal partners
We need much stronger mechanisms to promote the active involvement of district councils in the County Deals approach, says Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen.
The white paper wait seems worth it for districts
The Government should be applauded for recognising – at last – that Whitehall does not know best and that local areas are best placed to determine what is most likely to contribute to delivering the levelling up missions, says Ian Miller.
Ministers acknowledge long-term savings from Everyone In
Ministers have acknowledged that the Government’s Everyone In policy will achieve long-term savings despite arguing it is ‘not a sustainable approach’.
Districts call for new homes bonus certainty
District councils have called for long-term certainty over the future of the dwindling new homes bonus (NHB).
We will spell out the benefits delivered by districts' wellbeing services
We need a long term strategy that revitalises leisure and wellbeing services to level up the health of the nation and place them firmly within Integrated Care Systems, says Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen.
Districts are working hard to ensure a healthy Christmas future
With a hard winter looming, districts are focused on making sure every rough sleeper gets a jab, getting the vulnerable into secure accommodation, and addressing poverty, says Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen.
Councils express integrated care system sidelining fears
Local authority leaders are concerned they are being excluded as governance structures are put in place for the new bodies.
This provisional settlement makes the job of districts harder
The Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement falls short of what district councils need and leaves funding gaps that undermine the ability to deliver essential services, says Cllr Sharon Taylor.
Give districts an equal voice in county deals
Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen explains why district councils want to have an equal voice in developing county deals and be an active partner in delivering them.
