Our Work
We are a cross-party network, providing a single national voice for our district and unitary member councils
The DCN delivers value for our members by:
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- supporting our councils and being advocates for the work they do and the challenges they face
- facilitating collaboration, networking and access to information across all our councils
- influencing central government and the outside world to deliver the right national policy and funding framework for our councils to deliver the best possible services to residents
- producing evidence-based research on the key issues facing our councils and wider local government
Strategic Priorities
DCN has four strategic priorities which are the basis for our lobbying and research work
Environment, Net Zero and Sustainability
Our guardianship of the local environment contributes to the protection of the global environment
Finance and Investment
DCN member councils need sustainable resources and financial freedom to support their vital work
Health, Housing and Hardship
By intervening early we can tackle the causes of inequality, poverty, homelessness and poor health
Regeneration and Growth
District councils have a pivotal role in driving regeneration and economic development
Reports
You can find here research undertaken or commissioned by DCN on the issues that matter most to our members
Driving better health outcomes: districts’ role in ICSs
District council services play a key role in determining the health of their communities, making districts ...
Districts Deliver: How local people view their councils
Districts Deliver: How local people view their councils
Exclusive research has revealed unprecedented insight ...
Empowered councils can deliver net zero and clean growth
Empowered councils can deliver net zero and clean growth
Local government should be empowered to independently ...
Fit For the Future: The Health Value of Wellbeing and Leisure Services
Fit for the Future: The Health Value of Wellbeing and Leisure Services
This new report from DCN, produced with ...
Bigger is still Not Better – a report by Professor Colin Copus
Bigger is still Not Better - a report by Professor Colin Copus
This timely new report from Professor Colin Copus, ...
Levelling up places: A series of case studies demonstrating districts’ power in place
Levelling up places: A series of case studies demonstrating districts’ power in place
This new pamphlet showcases ...
Levelling up towns and cities in non- metropolitan England: Principles for county devolution
Levelling up towns and cities in non-metropolitan England: Principles for county devolution
Devolution can give ...
Briefing note: The Resources and Waste Strategy Reforms
Briefing note: The Resources and Waste Strategy Reforms
In this briefing note we detail some of our major concerns ...