Contact Us
Want to get in touch? Use the links or numbers below to contact us:
District Councils’ Network
18 Smith Square,
Westminster,
London,
SW1P 3HZ
Email: DCN@local.gov.uk
Media/Press enquiries:
Email: DCNMedia@local.gov.uk
Phone: 07798 534 701
DCN Updates
Genuinely local government can be enhanced as a result of today’s decision to keep councils close to communities, the Local Councils Network (LCN) ...
The District Councils’ Network has today relaunched itself as the Local Councils Network (LCN). The rebirth of the organisation – which has 169 uni...
Local Councils Network Launch Why are you rebranding to the Local Councils Network (LCN)? Local government reorganisation means district and count...
Kurtis Toy, Chief Operating Officer and CISO of the Cyber Centre of Excellence The reality of local government reorganisation (LGR) is coming into ...
DCN’s Annual Conference takes place on Thursday and Friday this week. Our Conference Handbook contains all the information you need to get th...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the Government’s announcement that local elections due to be cancelled will take place after all. C...
Government plans to exclude planning authorities from strategic planning could result in confusion and complexity which undermines housebuilding pl...
The final Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) 2026-27 contains good news for district councils. There had been the prospect of the Governmen...
Thousands of new council homes could be built after the Government announced it will lift one of the biggest barriers to much-needed affordable hou...
Local taxpayers and service users set to feel the pinch as councils face river maintenance spend hike Vast swathes of low-lying land face increased...
By Kate Edwards, associate, Birketts Local government reorganisation (LGR) raises urgent data-protection questions. It may not be clear who will be...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the Government announcement that county and district councils can apply to ministers to postpone el...
Welcome to this series of bite-sized webinars on local government reorganisation from Birketts. In them, Claire Jones, Legal Director in the Public...
The Government has today announced the delay of mayoral elections in Devolution Priority Programme areas from 2026 to 2028. This will impact on 7.5...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to today’s Budget, delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves this afternoon. The Budget introduces mansion...
Many people living outside the biggest cities face a visible contraction in local services after the Government today announced severe funding cuts...
The Government has today announced consultations on local government reorganisation in the six areas which are part of the Devolution Priority Prog...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to Government plans to strip councils of their power to block large housing developments. The Ministry...
A funding freeze on Government support for temporary accommodation is draining district councils of £268m a year – enough money to build over a tho...
We’re delighted to announce that DCN’s Annual Conference takes place on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 March 2026 – and it contains many potential...
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) notes the Government’s decision to create two unitary councils in Surrey. Under plans approved by the Governme...
Spending and performance data shows no benefit from proposed 500k population size Claims that mega councils with populations in excess of 500,000 w...
Councils are urged to support training schemes for ex-offenders and give them jobs following launch of innovative job scheme with HMP Norwich ̵...
We’re delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for the DCN Annual Conference on Thursday 19 to Friday 20 March 2026. Following the succes...
The District Councils’ Network’s new Chair took the reins last night at a crucial moment for all member councils. Cllr Richard Wright, Leader of No...
District councils should be given a seat at the table of new strategic authorities to ensure their longstanding housing and planning expertise is f...
Concern has been expressed that taxpayers could count the cost of new mega councils after analysis shows that the existing largest local authoritie...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the Government’s Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation. We support the aim of better mat...
Frustration was expressed that the transformation element of LGR – digital change, in particular – is being neglected in the rush for councils to a...
Proximity to place helps support children and families, says new report as council reorganisation looms Smaller councils can have a “natural advant...
Local government funding reform will hit the Government’s growth mission and target of building 1.5 million homes, district councils warn The counc...
Mega councils could be forced on areas regardless of whether existing councils or residents want them The District Councils’ Network has responded ...
Adult social care will be one of the biggest challenges and opportunities for new unitary councils after LGR. DCN is pleased to publish this import...
Changes in how funding is distributed between councils appear set to result in the erosion of local government services across vast swathes of Engl...
It’s undemocratic not to proactively seek views of communities on council reorganisation The side-lining of the public in determining the fu...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the Chancellor’s unveiling today of the spending review. We are particularly supportive of the scal...
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) has said that no alternative exists to strong, community-focused councils, in response to the Local Governmen...
The scale of the challenge presented to council services by local government reorganisation (LGR) was the topic of a roundtable, supported by Norse...
How councils can make the most of the Procurement Act 2023 By Gary Styles, Founder and Chief Executive, Zellar The Procurement Act 2023, which took...
By Ed Crouch, Market Development Director, Capita Managing aged debt is a significant challenge for councils, impacting financial management and pu...
DCN invited Inner Circle Consulting to produce a paper setting out how places might best respond to the challenges and opportunities of local gover...
Reorganisation could create larger versions of dysfunctionality, warns independent report Local government reorganisation (LGR) risks reinforcing t...
Cllr Richard Wright, the DCN’s planning spokesperson, has responded to the publication of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. “We want to see mor...
Little correlation between unitary councils’ size and service quality, official data reveals NOTE: This statement has been updated to reflect most ...
The District Councils’ Network has expressed scepticism over the levels of savings claimed by the proponents of mega councils. Research from the Co...
Coastal towns, rural areas and university cities are likely to lose out despite soaring temporary accommodation rates Councils facing some of Engl...
Two local government ministers, parliamentary representatives of the main Opposition parties and a combined authority mayor are among the speakers ...
Consultants will be the victors from the mad rush to impose mega councils The rush to impose mega councils on local areas ignores the views of loca...
Freedom of Information responses show no assessment undertaken to support 500k population floor for unitary councils The Government has admitted it...
DCN survey reveals local opposition to mega councils with populations exceeding half a million District councils overwhelmingly believe that power ...
A landmark report today sets out a comprehensive plan to tackle England’s housing crisis, including three reforms which would alone provide 100,000...
Many district councils look set to be forced to make cuts to essential community services, after Government funding for next year was announced. To...
DCN responds to the English Devolution White Paper The English Devolution White Paper, published today, proposes extending combined authorities to ...
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) has responded to the Government’s proposed reform of the National Planning Policy Framework. The Ministry of H...
Essential local services continue to face an uncertain future after today’s Local Government Finance Policy Statement. All district councils need a...
The Government’s assurance that local areas will retain discretion over how waste is collected has been welcomed by district councils. Defra policy...
Around 40 MPs and peers mixed with district council innovators at a DCN reception last night which commemorated member councils’ 50th anniversary. ...
Development. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean? Well, if you’re imagining long, dry workshops or endless Powe...
DCN’s Annual Conference takes place on 13-14 March 2025 at De Vere Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor, a stone’s throw from Runnymede, the birthplace o...
Two hundred people will gather in Old Windsor in March 2025 for one of the biggest events of the local government calendar. The District Councils&#...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the Budget unveiled by the Chancellor this afternoon. Rachel Reeves announced a series of measures ...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to today’s Budget which revealed the Government intends to reorganise local government. Today’s Budget...
Three councils are spending equivalent to at least half of their council tax revenue on homelessness support, forcing them to divert funding earmar...
In this bulletin CLLR SAM CHAPMAN-ALLEN: Let’s make a final push for action in the Budget MUST-READS: Our round-up of policy and media highl...
Funding reductions for councils would be disastrous. This is why, ahead of the Autumn Budget and Local Government Finance Settlement, the DCN is am...
Join us for a panel discussion and debate about solutions to the shortage of good-quality, genuinely affordable housing for our communities. This i...
District councils expect their spending on temporary accommodation to rocket by a third in just a year. The spending warning emerges as official fi...
In this update CLLR HANNAH DALTON: It’s time to prioritise affordable housing MUST-READS: Our round-up of media and policy highlights SIXTY SECONDS...
People living in areas at risk of flooding face cuts to local services due to the Government’s failure to devise a fair system to fund the rapidly ...
DCN, LGA, and Crisis demand five urgent measures to support people in danger of homelessness and protect council finance The Government has been ur...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to local government minister Jim McMahon’s call for a discussion on the potential merits of holding hy...
Five zoo-themed walking trails installed by Cherwell District Council are one of the many ways in which district councils encourage physical activi...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the Deputy Prime Minister’s statement on house building and planning reform. Cllr Bridget Smith, Vi...
DCN partnered with Zellar to assess the carbon footprint of our annual conference which took place in March. The event, at Sopwell House in St Alba...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the announcement of the new Government’s legislative programme in the King’s Speech. In response, C...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the letter from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to unitary and county councils seeking devoluti...
 The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is calling for reform of Right to Buy to be prioritised in the King’s Speech as data reveals the scale ...
The District Councils’ Network has welcomed the Chancellor’s commitment to kickstart growth and take action to remove barriers to housebuilding. Cl...
The District Councils’ Network has responded to this morning’s Downing Street meeting of regional mayors. Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Chairman of the D...
District councils eagerly look forward to working with the new Government to continue transforming our communities, economies and local public serv...
DCN has unveiled a prospectus setting out how district councils can work with the next Government. You can read our prospectus here: DCN Prospectus...
Great Yarmouth Borough Council was named Council of the Year at the LGC Awards last night. The Norfolk district beat fellow DCN members Dorset Coun...
In this update CLLR SAM CHAPMAN-ALLEN: Welcome to our new councillors MUST-READS: Our round-up of media and policy highlights WALLACE SAMPSON: How ...
By Wallace Sampson OBE, former Chief Executive, Harrogate Borough Council A persistent failing of the local government sector is its historic and c...
A skatepark which is boosting physical activity among users ranging from the youngest children to adults is the latest project featured in DCN’s vi...
Funding shortfalls and unrealistic timelines could jeopardise the Government’s Simpler Recycling reforms, the District Councils’ Network (DCN) has ...
Pendle Borough Council has explained its bold vision for regenerating the town of Colne, including through the creation of a new heritage quarter, ...
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is calling for immediate action to ensure councils can afford to support vulnerable families after new d...
In this email CLLR BRIDGET SMITH: Let’s celebrate 130 years of female district councillors MUST-READS: Our round-up of media and policy highlights ...
Independence from Government will ensure a fuller role for Oflog driving the improvement of councils, Trevor Holden, the DCN’s lead chief executive...
In this newsletter: CLLR SAM CHAPMAN-ALLEN: Happy birthday to us! MUST-READS: Our round-up of media and policy highlights DCN CONFERENCE: Our round...
Easter Monday is the fiftieth anniversary of the most localised principal tier of England’s local government landscape. The 164 district councils h...
The DCN Annual Conference was a huge success with over 250 people attending the event at Sopwell House, St Albans. Our conference theme was looking...
DCN’s Annual Conference takes place on 14-15 March 2024 at Sopwell House in St Albans, Hertfordshire. We are hugely looking forward to welcoming de...
In response to the Budget, Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Chairman of the District Councils’ Network, said: “Today’s Budget was a missed opportunity to pu...
