Districts have dismissed Government assurances about a controversial clause in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill that threatens to unilaterally strip their powers.

Despite an array of ministerial resignations and the sacking of levelling up secretary Michael Gove, the new secretary of state Greg Clark is still expected to oversee the progression of the Bill through Parliament.

Mr Clark has yet to give his view on the contentious clause 16.

Last week an amendment to the Bill that would have given lower-tier councils a stronger say was dropped amid attempts to reassure the District Councils’ Network (DCN) by Neil O'Brien, who has since resigned over the leadership of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.