District Councils Network
Place making and net-zero 'key tenets' in planning reforms
Place making, net-zero and good design will be priorities for the Government's planning reforms, a top mandarin has said.
District expectations tempered for Spending Review
The District Councils’ Network annual conference has heard reforms to local government finance are not expected in the short-term.
Sector ‘right to be concerned’ about levelling up
Local government should be wary of the contents of the levelling up White Paper, a think-tank has warned.
The power of quiet diplomacy
Outgoing chair of the District Councils’ Network, Cllr John Fuller, talks to Martin Ford about his legacy. He says districts showed their mettle during COVID and are best placed to deliver the levelling up agenda.
EXCLUSIVE: Questions over taskforce purpose
Local government associations have called for ministers to define the purpose of a new taskforce ahead of April’s launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), The MJ understands.
Is there much rigour to the Spending Review?
The District Councils’ Network’s clear requests include a year-on-year, real-terms increase in Government-funded spending power across the Spending Review, with the certainty and stability of a multi-year financial settlement, says Ian Miller.
District hopes of controlling £500m fund dashed
District hopes to be put in control of handing out the new £500m household support fund have been dashed after a ‘bizarre’ government decision.
Government moves towards all-in deposit return scheme
The Government is moving towards backing an all-in deposit return scheme (DRS) for all plastic bottles, glass bottles and aluminium drinks cans, The MJ understands.
Districts hit back at think tank planning proposals
District councils have hit back at a think-tank’s call for the Government to transfer planning powers up to a ‘new, strategic geography’.
Districts call for government intervention over supported housing
Three out of five district councils fear they do not have enough good quality supported housing for the next five years, a new survey has found.
County areas chase devo dream
County areas are lining up to strike one of the first tranche of devolution deals.
EXCLUSIVE: Porter intervention in waste plans
A former Conservative chairman of the Local Government Association has angrily criticised the Environment Bill’s waste reform proposals.
Districts call for 'equal footing' on devo deals
District leaders have written to the Prime Minister, asking for their councils to be put ‘on an equal footing’ to county and unitaries when it comes to devolution.
Devolution is back on the table
It's time to continue building strong partnerships across the economic, real-life geographies around which the Government can devolve serious influence on housing, transport, skills, employment, health and much more, says Cllr John Fuller.
Significant procurement challenges lie ahead for districts
Procurement is likely to involved significant challenges for district councils now and in the years ahead, says Ian Miller. 'It remains to be seen whether national or local priorities will govern councils' purchases'.
Districts squeezed out of new burdens cash
District councils have been squeezed out of new burdens funding for housing victims of domestic abuse due to a £8,000 cut off point.
The truth is out there
There are strange goings on out there.
Waste collection plans to cost £680m a year, councils warn
Government plans to standardise kerbside waste collections will cost £680m a year, district councils have warned.
DEFRA’s simplistic proposals are as doomed to fail
The waste collection business is complicated, says chair of the District Councils' Network Cllr John Fuller. 'It requires attention to detail and a recognition that different streets in a borough can have different requirements.'
Districts in plea for leisure centre funding
A crunch meeting on the future of leisure centres is to take place this week, The MJ understands.
