Around 40 MPs and peers mixed with district council innovators at a DCN reception last night which commemorated member councils’ 50th anniversary.
The parliamentary event showcased the work of specific council projects to support communities, drive growth and prevent ill health or homelessness.
The reception was attended by two local government ministers: Jim McMahon and Baroness Sharon Taylor, as well as 150 councillors and officers from our member councils. The event was kindly supported by CCLA and Capita.
Mr McMahon said the councils in attendance gave him a real sense of being the “glue that holds places and public services together” in their area. He also urged member councils to “embrace devolution”.
DCN Chair Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen told attendees: “For 50 years all of you have ensured your communities have gone from strength to strength.”
On the subject of the forthcoming English devolution white paper, he said that local government’s “super-power” was the fact that it was local.
“For local government to stay successful we need to ensure that it remains local in its entirety,” Cllr Chapman-Allen said.
