commercialisation | District Councils' Network

DCN Chairman responds to the Queen’s speech

DCN — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 13:48:19 +0000

Responding to the Queen’s Speech which set out plans across England, Chairman of the District Councils Network, Cllr John Fuller, said:

“We welcome the Government’s ambition to invest in public services to help all areas prosper and give more control back to communities at a scale that is ‘right-sized’ around the citizen, using District Councils as the essential building block to deliver stronger economies and better lives.

“It is essential that local services are properly funded. We look forward to working with government ahead of the Spending Review, to ensure district councils get the long-term funding certainty to underpin the services that we deliver for every family, in every place, to make life better for everyone.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is a cross-party member led network providing a single voice to 191 district councils. District councils in England deliver 86 out of 137 essential local government services to over 22 million people – 40 per cent of the population – and cover 68 per cent of the country by area. They play a key role in local communities, providing services such as building homes, collecting waste, regenerating town centres, preventing homelessness, keeping streets clean and maintaining parks.

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HIGH STREETS EMERGENCY: NEW RETAIL PLANNING APPLICATIONS HALVE IN FIVE YEARS

DCN — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 11:49:18 +0000

HIGH STREETS EMERGENCY’: NEW RETAIL PLANNING APPLICATIONS HALVE IN FIVE YEARS

Struggling high streets face a fight for survival after new analysis by the District Councils Network (DCN) found that the number of planning applications for new retail units has almost halved in five years.

There were 1,258 applications received by district councils for retail and service developments in the year ending June 2019, down from 2,216 in the year ending June 2015.

DCN, which represents 191 district councils, says the figures show that high streets are in a state of “emergency”.

The analysis of government figures for England also shows planning applications for new housing have slumped to a four-year low.

District councils received 31,073 applications for new homes in 2019 – the lowest since 2015.

DCN says the figures reflect the ongoing economic uncertainty and falling confidence from developers in the housing market.

It is calling on the Government to give all districts the long term funding they need to revive high streets, and to give them flexibility to raise finance locally for instance to set business rates relief.

In addition, the DCN is calling on the Government to ensure the continuation of the New Homes Bonus – money for areas where new homes are built – to ensure councils have the funding to deliver services and attract the new investment critical to thriving communities.

Cllr Mark Crane, DCN Lead for Stronger Economies, said:

“These figures paint a worrying picture about the future of our high streets and town centres, and highlights the uphill battle we face tackling the housing crisis.

There are huge opportunities to reshape places into thriving community, cultural and employment hubs – by investing in new housing, infrastructure, services and events.

“However, district councils, which are responsible for delivering housing and improving high streets, need the funding certainty and powers to transform town centres, to attract investment into infrastructure, and to build new homes.

“While there is a growing amount of energy and schemes invested in tackling these issues from Whitehall, the national complexity and focus on short term results risks under-utilising the ambitions of district councils to deliver change over the long-term.

“Without new powers and long term funding for local areas, our country will continue to struggle to turn around our town centres and face real difficulties tackling the housing crisis.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

Full set of planning figures available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-planning-application-statistics

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DCN responds to waste strategy consultation

DCN — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:34:20 +0000

Responding to the launch of consultations on the new Resources and Waste Strategy, Cllr Isobel Darby, DCN Lead Member for Enhancing the Quality of Life, said:

“District councils are committed to improving the environment and enhancing the quality of life of our residents; as such we welcome the Government direction to improve environmental strategies and increase recycling rates.

“As the collection authorities, district councils work hard to improve standards and government figures show that we represent 65 per cent of the top 100 authorities in our recycling rates.

“However, the Resources and Waste Strategy would see significant new financial burdens placed on to district councils, particularly with the consideration of removing chargeable garden waste services. Compelling evidence of the value for money and environmental benefits should be provided before any changes are decided and implemented.

“In addition, Government must recognise and address the impact both manufacturers and reprocessors have on our ability, as collection authorities, to deliver a consistent service. There must be an “end to end” approach with all parties responsibilities taken into consideration.

“We welcome this important consultation period where we hope that government will listen to our concerns so we can work better together to boost recycling rates and improve standards for the communities we serve.

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CONTACT: DCN media office, 020 7664 3333

DCN responds to funding announced for new garden towns

DCN — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 16:29:41 +0000

Responding to £9 million in additional government funding announced for new garden towns, Cllr Mark Crane, DCN Lead for Stronger Economies, said:

“Across the country, districts are delivering ambitious, strategic housing projects. This locally targeted funding will help unlock significant garden settlement proposals and ensure the timely delivery of homes this country desperately needs.

“We now call on the Government to announce the outstanding Housing Infrastructure Fund bids so more district areas are empowered and able to get on with delivering more homes.”

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CONTACT: DCN media office, 020 7664 3333

Public health role of district councils needs to be better rewarded, says DCN

DCN — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 11:16:05 +0000

District councils need to be better rewarded for their essential and effective role in public health which is saving millions of pounds for primary health services, the DCN urged today.

As the prevention authorities, district councils are improving public health outcomes by reducing demand for social care and acute health services, which is enabling people to live happier, healthier and independent lives for longer.

The influential role and significant contribution of Districts in improving public health outcomes is highlighted in a new report launched at DCN’s annual conference today.

“Shaping healthy places: exploring the district role in health”, published by the DCN in collaboration with the Local Government Association, details innovative prevention initiatives by district councils to improves people’s lives and save long-term costs to the public purse.

Districts are providers of key services which have a direct impact on the social determinants of health, such as housing, planning, leisure, recreation and environmental health.

Their key role ranges from developing affordable housing, undertaking home adaptations and reducing homelessness, to providing cycle lanes and imposing restrictions on unhealthy food outlets. Districts are not only making healthier places to live but are reducing the burden on other parts of the public sector.

The 2016/17 statistics show that district councils prevented or relieved more than 66,000 homelessness cases – nearly a third of England’s total – which could potentially save the NHS £85 million in annual costs.

Parks provide £34 billion of health and wellbeing benefits, saving the NHS £111 million a year through prevented GP visits.

Furthermore, every £1 spent on handyman services saves £7.50 for the NHS. Similarly, every £1 spent on home adaptations saves the health service £108 in prevented falls over 10 years.

For this “prevention is better than cure” reason, and to address significant funding challenges, the DCN is calling for district councils to be allowed to levy a 3 per cent “prevention precept” on council tax which could raise £42 million a year in 2019/20 and deliver significant long-term savings many times that amount for the NHS and social care authorities.

Government should also commit to establishing a new health prevention fund which Districts, alongside other councils and public bodies, can bid for to support projects that deliver preventative services and can reduce rising costs to adult social care.

District councils are calling on the Government to use the forthcoming spending review to properly fund local government to maximise their ability to invest in prevention and further improve the population’s health.

Cllr Isobel Darby, DCN Lead for Quality of Life, said:

“District councils, despite not receiving any direct public health funding, are having a huge impact on improving people’s physical and mental wellbeing.

“The crucial prevention role of Districts is reducing long-term costs to health and adult social care services by reducing hospital admissions and ensuring people stay well in their communities for longer.

“In order to create a sustainable health and social care system, it is more important than ever to fully engage with district councils who are able to solve problems rather than simply manage caseloads. Their integral role in public health needs to be better recognised and rewarded.

“With further support for their cost-effective prevention work, Districts, which are on the frontline of communities, can achieve even more to deliver better lives and stronger economies.”

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:

“Preventative strategies help people live healthier lives for longer, by reducing the long-term illnesses and chronic conditions that worsen their quality of life.

“The current social care and health system is unsustainable and will buckle under the weight of demand unless we urgently re-engineer our services to promote healthy choices, protect health, prevent sickness and intervene early to minimise the need for costly social care and hospital treatment.

“Councils are tackling persistent problems like childhood obesity, mental illness, substance misuse, sexually transmitted infections and the health impact of loneliness, as well as addressing some of the serious health inequalities that still exist across the country.

“But to maximise this prevention vision and support the NHS even more effectively, government needs to ensure that councils’ prevention work is adequately funded by reversing the £700 million in reductions to councils’ public health grants.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

Copies of “Shaping healthy places: exploring the district role in health” are available on request.
The Kings’ Fund estimates that by adapting 100,000 homes to meet the needs of older people, districts could save the NHS £69 for every pound spent; improving 100,000 homes to protect older people from the cold weather districts could save the NHS £34.19 for every £1 pound spent.
Fields in Trust report, Revaluing Parks and Green Spaces, shows the economic valuation of parks and green spaces in the UK as well as valuing improvements in health and wellbeing associated with their frequent use.
DCN’s “Transformation in localities toolkit” (page 89) outlines the health benefits and costs savings that can be made through prevention work by district councils
DCN’s annual conference is taking place at the Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LD from 7-8 February.

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CONTACT: DCN media office, 020 7664 3333

DCN responds to written ministerial statement on Brexit funding

DCN — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 10:19:41 +0000

Responding to a written ministerial statement on Brexit funding for local government, which confirms that district councils will receive £35,000 each over two years, Cllr John Fuller, Chairman of the District Councils’ Network, said:

“Deal or no deal, councils of all sizes must prepare for life after Brexit. District councils welcome this additional funding, whether this is planning for data security, preparing ports and airports, food hygiene or supporting our communities through changes.”

ENDS

CONTACT: DCN media office, 020 7664 3333

DCN responds to NHS long term plan

DCN — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 12:22:05 +0000

Responding to the NHS long term plan, Cllr Isobel Darby, DCN Member Lead for Quality of Life, said:

“We are pleased that prevention is a core part of the NHS long term plan which remains crucial to reducing the burden on acute care. However, in order to successfully deliver this agenda, the key role of district councils must be better recognised and funded.

“As the housing, planning and growth authorities for over half the country, district councils already play a crucial role in improving people’s health and wellbeing. Our preventative role is key to delivering long term sustainability by significantly reducing the demands and costs on adult social care and the NHS.

“Districts currently receive no direct funding for public health, yet every £1 we spend can save up to £70 to wider sector partners. To make the best use of the extra NHS funding, it is vital that this is invested in prevention by using local knowledge to build healthy spaces and target funding on early intervention. With the proper resources, district councils, operating at a truly local level, can do even more to help the NHS by supporting healthy and happy lives in our communities.”

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CONTACT: DCN media office, 020 7664 3333

DCN responds to new Government waste strategy

DCN — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 11:13:00 +0000

Responding to the Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy, launched today, Cllr Isobel Darby, DCN Lead for Quality of Life, said:

“District councils, as the collection authorities, will continue to work to increase recycling rates which improves the quality of life of our residents. However, we must avoid a ‘one size fits all’ approach for standardising services.

“In implementing this strategy it will be vital that comprehensive funding from Government is provided to support the delivery of additional and changed services and any changes should be introduced over a transitional period to allow district councils to determine how waste services work best for the different rural and urban communities that they serve.

“Districts are pleased that the new strategy puts more focus on the responsibilities of businesses and manufacturers in recycling and will continue to work closely with them in its implementation.”

ENDS

CONTACT: DCN media office, 020 7664 3333

DCN responds to Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement

DCN — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 13:00:54 +0000

Responding to the provisional local government finance settlement, District Councils’ Network Chairman, Cllr John Fuller, said:

“We are pleased that the Government has listened to the voice of districts and removed the threat of negative RSG – which is tax on local ambition – alongside no further changes to the New Homes Bonus baseline rate. The New Homes Bonus is a powerful driver for housing growth which rewards those councils who are delivering the homes this country needs and it is right that councils are not disincentivised in delivering more homes.

“Districts have seen the biggest reduction in their spending power since 2015 compared to other types of councils. We will now be considering the detail of consultations launched today on the fair funding review and business rate retention to ensure that the decline in district spending power is reversed and local economic growth is incentivised, to ensure that districts continue to deliver better lives and stronger economies.”

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CONTACT: DCN media office, 020 7664 3333

DCN responds to Disabled Facilities Grant review

DCN — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 16:45:43 +0000

Responding to the publication of an independent review into the Disabled Facilities Grant, DCN spokesperson for Better Lives, Mayor Kate Allsop said:

“As the housing and planning authorities we are disappointed that this Independent Review to government into Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) did not take the opportunity to confirm that DFGs should be paid directly to districts in district/county areas to ensure that they receive the funding to deliver on their statutory responsibilities in this area.

“Recent additional DFG money identified in the Budget has been paid directly to districts as the housing and planning authorities to ensure that it can be utilised in time, recognising that districts were able to utilise this funding at short notice. This should be replicated for all DFG funding and we will be calling on Government to confirm this in their response to the review.

“The suggestion of health and housing partnership boards risks adding a further layer of complexity and bureaucracy in making adaptions to homes. There are real risks that such funding will be used to fund front end social services, rather than the preventatives services such as home adaptions which reduce the burden on adult social care demand.”

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CONTACT: DCN media office, 020 7664 3333