Proximity to place helps support children and families, says new report as council reorganisation looms Smaller councils can have a “natural advantage” in...
Punishing growth: Top house-building councils hit by maximum funding cut
Local government funding reform will hit the Government’s growth mission and target of building 1.5 million homes, district councils warn The councils doing...
‘The devolution label doesn’t match the contents’: DCN’s devo bill response
Mega councils could be forced on areas regardless of whether existing councils or residents want them The District Councils’ Network has responded to today’s...
Social care reorganisation offers ‘chance to reset’ services
Proposals to disaggregate adult social care services could spur prevention focus. District councils’ local connection gives them a “prevention superpower”...
Slashing preventative services and home-building incentives won’t solve councils’ funding crisis
Changes in how funding is distributed between councils appear set to result in the erosion of local government services across vast swathes of England. The...
The public must have the final say on mega councils
It’s undemocratic not to proactively seek views of communities on council reorganisation The side-lining of the public in determining the future of...
DCN responds to spending review: prevention spend is a long-term investment
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the Chancellor’s unveiling today of the spending review. We are particularly supportive of the scale of the...
DCN responds to council reorganisation update
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) has said that no alternative exists to strong, community-focused councils, in response to the Local Government...
Council shake-up must promote sustainable reform over short-term fixes
Reorganisation could create larger versions of dysfunctionality, warns independent report Local government reorganisation (LGR) risks reinforcing the status...
‘We need more homes, not just more planning permissions’
Cllr Richard Wright, the DCN’s planning spokesperson, has responded to the publication of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. “We want to see more of the...
UPDATED: Performance data undermines case for mega councils
Little correlation between unitary councils’ size and service quality, official data reveals NOTE: This statement has been updated to reflect most recent...
District councils respond to claim of savings from mega councils
The District Councils’ Network has expressed scepticism over the levels of savings claimed by the proponents of mega councils. Research from the County...