DCN Updates
District council services face cuts following tough finance settlement
‘Mega councils’ threaten local services and delivery of homes and jobs
‘1.5 million planning consents doesn’t equate to 1.5 million homes’
Essential services face an uncertain future – DCN reacts to finance statement
Ministers have listened to us on waste reform but financial challenges remain
Fifty years of district innovation celebrated in Parliament
The Best Investment You’ll Ever Make (And No, I’m Not Talking About Bitcoin)
The DCN Annual Conference 2025: Bookings now open!
DCN Annual Conference: your opportunity to engage with a vibrant sector
Budget reaction: ‘District funding hasn’t kept up with rising demand for services’
Local government reorganisation threatens high-quality services
‘Most of our council tax is spent on temporary accommodation’Â
Who we are
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is a cross-party network of 169 district and unitary councils. We are a special interest group of the Local Government Association, providing a single voice for all district services.
DCN member councils deliver a wide range of local government services to over 21 million people – 37% of England’s population. They cover 59% of the country by area. DCN councils are home to 39% of England’s businesses and 32% of national Gross Domestic Product.
They deliver visible frontline services that matter to every single resident and business in their local areas.
These include waste collection, planning and housing, homelessness prevention, welfare support, environmental health, parks and green spaces, leisure centres, and economic development.
DCN councils play a unique role in shaping local places to make them more prosperous. They drive local economic growth and the resurgence of local pride that goes with it. They hold vital keys to improving health and wellbeing and reducing pressure on the NHS. They have an unparalleled ability to support local residents who need it most and help prevent the social problems of tomorrow.
Reports
Research undertaken or commissioned by DCN on the issues that matter most to our members
Driving better health outcomes: districts’ role in ICSs
Districts Deliver: How local people view their councils
Empowered councils can deliver net zero and clean growth
Fit For the Future: The Health Value of Wellbeing and Leisure Services
Bigger is still Not Better – a report by Professor Colin Copus
Levelling up places: A series of case studies demonstrating districts’ power in place
Levelling up towns and cities in non- metropolitan England: Principles for county devolution
Briefing note: The Resources and Waste Strategy Reforms
Innovation Spotlight
Showcasing DCN member councils’ innovative approaches on place leadership, wellbeing and environmental issues
Pendle: The Yes Hub
Watford: Town Hall Quarter
Cambridge: Decarbonising transport
South Norfolk: District Direct social prescribing
Tendring: Primary school wellbeing hubs
Reigate & Banstead: Health creation networks
North Warwickshire: Household welcome bundle
Stafford: Local plan engagement
New Forest: Mental health practitioner
East Hampshire: Pinewood pods
East Devon: Innovation and resilience fund
Epsom and Ewell: Digital engagement
Partners
DCN partners with trusted private sector organisations.
Find out about their work by clicking on their logos
