Tickets featuring overnight accommodation are now sold out. However, a limited number of day tickets are still available for DCN’s flagship event, which takes place on 13-14 March 2025 at the De Vere Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor.

Among the speakers at DCN’s conference are:

• Local government ministers Jim McMahon and Baroness Sharon Taylor
• Senior parliamentarians Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative), Gideon Amos (Lib Dem), Baroness Jenny Jones (Green) and Toby Perkins (Labour)
• East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward
• Former district, county, unitary and combined authority Chief Executive Deborah Cadman
• Centre for Local Economic Strategy Chief Executive Sarah Longlands
• Chartered Institute of Housing Chief Executive Gavin Smart
• And radio host, musician, priest, writer and Strictly contestant Rev Richard Coles (as after-dinner speaker).

The full conference programme can be seen by clicking here: DCN Annual Conference 2025 – Programme 25 Feb with chairs.

Among the themes of sessions are reorganisation, devolution, housing, the environment and leadership.

There will of course be ample opportunity to network, socialise and discuss with other elected members and officers how they are grappling with the same issues you face on your council.

The event is made possible by the support of our sponsors CCLA, Capita, The Cyber Centre of Excellence for Local Public Services, Inner Circle, Local Partnerships, Norse Group, Penna, Unify Group, Vistry and Zellar, and by our exhibitors.

We’re pleased to say that we’ve kept the main ticket price frozen. You can book your place by following this link. Please share this invitation widely with your colleagues.

At our 2025 conference we will engage with the opportunities and challenges our sector faces, with issues including planning reform and devolution looming large on everyone’s radar. We’ll also examine how DCN councils can devise new and innovative ways to deliver for our communities.

Delegates will have the chance to engage with high-profile speakers, including expected Government ministers, MPs across the political spectrum, local government partners and leaders from the private sector and other walks of life. There will also be interactive sessions showcasing best practice and innovation in service delivery.

The conference offers a golden opportunity to meet others in our network and find out how other elected members and officers are grappling with the same issues we you face on your council.

Useful information:

• Conference registration opens around 10:15 am on Thursday, 13 March.
• A drinks reception and gala dinner take place on the evening of 13 March.
• Conference finishes around 2pm on Friday, 14 March.

Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Ticket prices are:

• Full conference including gala dinner and overnight accommodation: £499 + VAT
• Two days including gala dinner but without overnight accommodation: £395 + VAT
• Day ticket (per day): £180 + VAT

Please book now to secure your place, at what is sure to be a popular event. For corporate attendees please contact DCN@local.gov.uk for more information on how to book as this form is only for member councils.

There is a balance to be struck between financial prudence and securing future growth opportunities, writes Kelly Watson, Head of Local Government Relationships at CCLA, in response to a CCLA/DCN roundtable on district council finance

The scale of the challenge facing local government has reached new levels. Living through a global pandemic whilst managing the impact for residents, businesses and staff created pressure on a scale that we could not have conceived previously. The country is now facing a cost-of-living crisis and levels of inflation not experienced since the 1980s, in addition to an energy crisis and longstanding budget constraints. District councils are at the forefront of supporting communities and delivering for residents, particularly at difficult times.

Under pressure

The pressures and challenges faced are significant. Following years of austerity, efficiency programmes, invest to save and many other initiatives, local government is facing some of its biggest pressures in recent history. Some describe the current climate as a perfect storm with one of the greatest challenges yet still to be faced: the investment required for the move to net zero.

At the same time as costs rise and new funding lags behind inflation, demand for district council services is growing – especially the unprecedented demand for affordable housing and temporary accommodation. Big constraints remain on district councils’ ability to recover the full costs of providing important services, especially planning and licensing, and to generate income.

District councils are grappling with decisions which will affect the lives of everyone they serve. Stark choices between statutory and discretionary services will be debated and the ability to invest in local regeneration may be questioned. These choices and decisions are uncomfortable and future implications difficult to predict, the only certainty is that authorities will take decisions in the best interest of their communities.

It’s not all doom and gloom

District councils are in a unique position not only to survive but thrive.

Perhaps district councils are like trees! Trees are vital, they give us oxygen, store carbon, stabilise the soil and support life. Trees benefit health, the environment, boost wildlife, strengthen communities, grow the economy (people are attracted to living, working, and investing in green spaces) and protect the future (Royal Parks).

District councils do all of these things and are deeply ‘rooted’ in their communities.

District councils exist to serve communities and provide vital services. Securing greater financial freedoms for local government and providing more certainty over future funding could support councils with longer-term planning and investment. This would allow further innovation, working together with communities to deliver a sustainable local economy fit for the future.

Just like trees, district councils are in a great position to have a positive impact on people’s lives – provided they have the financial freedom and certainty to support themselves and their communities.

Last December, up-and-coming officers from district councils across England gathered for the final event of the District Councils’ Network 2022 Staff Development Programme (SDP).

The SDP sees rising stars from district councils come together to develop their leadership potential, share innovations and ideas, build their networks, and hear from thought leaders about the key issues facing councils.

Julie Towers, Managing Director at Penna, presented as part of an excellent day, with the SDP cohort hearing about leadership from a variety of engaging perspectives.

There were some fantastic insights into how to be an “authentic leader”, and how to empower teams by empowering yourself. The inspirational speakers who came together for the final session were open and honest about their career journeys and their own lived experience. They spoke of breaking down barriers, asking the challenging questions and being passionate about doing the right thing for the local people that you represent.

We heard that it can sometimes be lonely the more senior you become, but if you build trust in your teams, approach issues with integrity and are prepared to make the tough decisions, the results can be phenomenal. Barry Quirk, the former chief executive of Kensington & Chelsea Council, presented alongside Penna and gave great insight into how understanding oneself and building a strong support network around you is incredibly important when trying to become a successful leader with a focus on people.

It was rewarding to listen to the chief executives of the future talking about the inspirational work that they had undertaken over the year. We had some great discussion topics, looking at how to recruit the best talent, the best way to assess transferable skills, on how to remove geographical barriers and create a great employee value proposition, as well as some expert advice provided by Julie on succession planning for the future.

Penna is proud to sponsor the DCN’s SDP and looks forward to welcoming and supporting a new cohort in 2023. Find out more about Penna’s services via Penna | Home.

The innovation of district councils in supporting the vulnerable through this difficult winter was the theme of a DCN/Capita roundtable

The scale of innovation to support communities through the cost-of-living crisis was the subject of a District Councils’ Network roundtable event, supported by Capita.

The event brought together district council specialists in welfare, housing and community support to discuss the techniques and solutions they are using in their local areas to support vulnerable residents through the winter and the continuing cost-of-living pressures.

The discussion highlighted innovative solutions that local councils are deploying. These include mobile community supermarkets to offer cheap food to struggling residents in rural areas and ‘GoFundMe’ webpages to enable local businesses and residents to help fund the provision of electric blankets and slow cookers.

There was a strong consensus that councils’ performances during the pandemic – and their relationships with local partners which deepened at that time – provided a platform for action now.

The group discussed the crucial role of partnerships more widely: the importance of working with other public bodies – including GPs and Integrated Care Systems -, community groups and third sector organisations is paramount; district councils have a vital convening role.

The extent of the rise in demand for services was a prominent theme. Participants agreed that they were supporting groups of residents they had never previously supported – who can perhaps be characterised as the “just about managing”.  It is the complexity and changing face of demand (not simply the level of demand) that is posing additional challenges. Several participants observed that their council’s success in targeting and supporting residents most in need was itself stoking an increase in demand through word of mouth. They also observed that a wide spectrum of service areas is experiencing rising demand, including abandoned vehicles and animals.

This prompted a debate about whether existing data and technology is sophisticated enough to identify residents most in need and how we can measure the success of our interventions. There was general agreement that councils have access to a lot of data but that improving the quality of that data is key. For example, official indices of deprivation data are only useful to a degree. To go further, one council has launched a social progress index, with 54 indicators of wellbeing including nutrition, shelter, access to medical services. There was enthusiasm about the potential to undertake predictive analytics to identify communities and individuals most likely to require assistance.

Finally, the group explored the impact of cost-of-living pressures on their own councils and staff. There was general concern about the sustainability of district councils’ work to support the vulnerable given wider budget pressures and the possible need to target interventions rather than unleash a level of demand for services which could not be met. It was widely noted that some council staff – especially those on lower incomes – are suffering as much as other people during the cost-of-living crisis together with the pressure of increasing workloads and the stress of supporting people in acute distress.

We’re delighted to be joining the LGA Conference, and this year we’ll be looking to discuss the contribution we can make to levelling up. Our members want to be fully involved in levelling up and help our local communities land ambitious county deals.

We provide essential frontline services to 22 million people – that’s 40% of England’s population. We’re home to 40% of the country’s businesses and one-third of economic output. Districts provide critical capacity and capability to turn policy into practice at pace.

In vast swathes of England, the unleashing of districts is fundamental to achieving the 12 levelling up missions.

• We have a proven track record of delivery based on our unique proximity to left-behind communities, our close knowledge of local places and economies, and strong convening power.
• We’re supremely well-placed to drive the levelling up outcomes the Government seeks. We have vital levers to help deliver improved economic, social and health outcomes.
• We work successfully with a broad range of partners – including county and unitary councils, and our local businesses – to develop solutions, catalyse collaboration and invest in long-term success.

This all adds up to districts being strong place leaders with clear democratic accountability providing the ability to get things done on the ground.

Reports

Below are a selection of our recent publications which demonstrate our members ability to achieve the goals of levelling up:

Reimagining our Towns and High Streets

Bigger is still Not Better 

Fit for the Future: The Health Value of Leisure and Wellbeing Services

Fit for the Future: The District role in health and wellbeing

Levelling Up Places: Case studies demonstrating districts’ power in place

DCN contacts

If you’d like to discuss our work further you can contact the following members of our team:

James Hood, DCN Director –                                               james.hood@local.gov.uk

Nick Golding, Senior Policy & External Relations Officer – nick.golding@local.gov.uk

David Sharman, Senior Policy & Partnerships Officer – david.sharman@local.gov.uk

Stephen Froome, Events & Engagement Officer –       stephen.froome@local.gov.uk

We were delighted to welcome over 170 Leaders and Chief Executives to Kenilworth for our first in-person conference in over 18 months.

You can read the slides used by a selection of our speakers below:

Kate Ogden, Research Economist, Institute for Fiscal Studies

What’s happened and what’s next -IFS Kate Ogden

Katy Losse, Lead for Environmental Studies, National Audit Office

Enriching the Environment, reaching Net Zero – National Audit Office

David Finch, Assistant Director, The Health Foundation

Rethinking Health- David Finch slides

Ansaf Azhar, Director of Public Health, Oxfordshire County Council

Rethinking Health- Ansaf Azhar slides

David Waterhouse, Head of Design and Planning Reform, Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities 

Changing spaces, making future places – David Waterhouse slides

Bridget Rosewell CBE, Commissioner, National Infrastructure Commission

Changing spaces, making future places – Bridget Rosewell slides

Andrew Taylor, Group Planning Director, Countryside Properties

Changing spaces, making future places – Building Communities, Countryside Properties

Cllr Sharon Taylor OBE, Leader, Stevenage Borough Council

Housing and Homelessness – Cllr Sharon Taylor

Charlie Trew, Head of Policy, and Charlie Berry, Research Officer, Shelter

Housing and Homelessness – Shelter

2020 Conference Update 

Our 2020 DCN Conference was our most successful yet. With over 250 registered delegates and a variety of speakers and innovative presentations, we witnessed real engagement of council leaders from all over England, tackling districts’ biggest future challenges. Please see below to read our Chairman’s speech, and see some of the presentations that took place over the two days.

Chairman’s speech – opening speech by Cllr John Fuller OBE

DCN2020 Conference Chairman’s speech

Presentations:

Sir John Curtice: Professor of Politics, University of Strathclyde 

The Voters’ Perspective: Public Concerns and Political Trends 

David Phillips: Associate Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies 

The 2020 Spending Review and the outlook for local government funding: what about district councils?

Cllr Doina Cornell: Leader, Stroud District Council

Changing Waste Collections to Minimise Waste to Landfill

Cllr Kevin Maguire: Norwich City Council, Portfolio Holder for Safe and Sustainable City Environment

Tackling Climate Change: Norwich’s Story 

Jean Templeton: Chief Executive, St Basils and Chair, WMCA Homelessness Taskforce

Michael Veryard, Chiltern and South Bucks District Council and DCN Housing Adviser

Workshop Session: Homelessness and rough sleeping: ending it by preventing it

John Parmiter, Director, Future High Streets

Daisy Daventry, Town Centre and High Streets Policy Team Lead, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)

Workshop Session: Your High Streets: retail is detail 

Overview

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Event: DCN Annual Conference 2020

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Confirmed speakers

• Sir John Curtice, Polling Expert, Professor of Politics, University of Strathclyde
• Mark Farmer, HMG Champion for Modern Housebuilding and Chief Executive, Cast Consultancy
• Peter Gladwell, Head of Public Sector Partnerships, Legal and General
• Dr Janice Morphet, Visiting Professor, UCL Bartlett School of Planning
• Sir Jonathan Porritt CBE, Founder Director and Trustee, Forum for the Future
• Rosamond Roughton, Director, Department for Health and Social Care
• Michael Wood, Head of Economic Partnerships, NHS Confederation
• Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive, Local Government Association
• Cllr James Jamieson, Chair of the LGA
• Jean Templeton, Chief Executive of St Basils and Chair of WMCA Homelessness Taskforce
• John Parmiter, Director, Future High Streets
• David Phillips, Associate, Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies

Further expected speakers:

Senior Ministers, shadow Ministers, Chief Executives, senior councillors and senior speakers from the Local Government Association.

You can book at this link. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to get in touch at dcn@local.gov.uk, or on 0207 664 3048.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1562067778414{padding-top: 5px !important;background-color: #f4f4f4 !important;}” el_class=”center-content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

DCN UPDATES

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