District Councils' Network

DCN Briefing from the HQN event ‘Nail your colours to the mast’ bold thinking on allocations policy

emmatucker — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:38:37 +0000

The DCN Housing Project Officer, Rebecca Slack, attend this event, held by the Housing Quality Network. Below is an overview of some of the key impacts of the Localism Act on how social housing is allocated. The event also provided an initial update from the DCLG on some of the emerging findings from the recent DCLG consultation on the Guidance on Allocation of Accommodation.

Allocations Event Briefing

To discuss with Rebecca, contact her Rebecca.Slack@ne-derbyshire.gov.uk

DCN Contributes to national NHS event on health and wellbeing boards

emmatucker — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:16:23 +0000

The NHS hosted a national learning event ‘Building Successful Health and Wellbeing Boards’ on the 24th April. The DCN was invited to contribute to the event and showcase some of the excellent work taking place in districts. Below are the slides from the presentation given.

DCN NHS Summit Slides

District and the Open Public Service White Paper

emmatucker — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:04:12 +0000

A district brief on the Open Public Service White Paper Report

Open Public Services Brief

Districts as enblers of growth

emmatucker — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:50:25 +0000

Districts came together on Friday 20th April at the DCN and Basildon BC event on enabling growth. They heard from John Hayes, MP and Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, from Basildon’s Chief Executive on their approach to enabling growth in Basildon.

The Afternoon session heard from Max Wide, iMpower, on his approach to public private partnerships and how districts can enable the private sector to grow. A Panel session finished the day discussing barriers to growth and working with the private sector.

The events concept, design and delivery was all done by Basildon’s Graduate employees.

Slides from the event are available below.

Bala Mahendran

Max Wide

Slides and handouts from the DCN Event: Planning – A district perspective

emmatucker — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:30:57 +0000

The DCN Event Planning – A district perspective took place earlier this week both have been our best attended events so far. The highlight of the event was hearing from Steve Quartermain the Chief Planner at Communities and Local Government and taking a closer look at the neighbourhood planning agenda. If you were unable to attend the please take a look at the slides below.

During the event Mr Quartermain mentioned the National Planning Policy Framework advice line for all councils, this can be accessed on 0303 4445 500.

Steve Quartermain

Planning Advisory Service

David Tittle (Stafford event only)

Broadland District Council

Lichfield District Council

Event Report

DCN Event: Districts as enablers of growth

emmatucker — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:53:23 +0000

District council leaders and chief executives are invited to come along to an event to:

Explore the role of districts in underpinning local economies and delivering growth
Understanding how to work with the private sector better
Developing the local business community
Hear from John Hayes Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning and Max Wide from iMPOWER

Event information

Time: 10.30 – 15.00

Date: 20 April 2012

Location: Green Centre, Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea, Basildon, Essex, SS16 4UH

How to get here?

Motorway: A13 from M25

Car park: The Green Centre has onsite parking

Train: trains 40 mins from London Fenchurch Street Station, a shuttle bus service from Pitsea will be provided.

To book a place contact vicky.stavropoulou@local.gov.uk. or use the booking-form

Event Flyer

DCN responds to the Governments Allocation of Accommodation consultation

emmatucker — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:25:26 +0000

The DCN’s full response to the governments consultation on the allocation of accommodation can be found below.

Allocation of Accomodation consultation response

Chief Executives Monthly update

emmatucker — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:08:10 +0000

Steve Atkinsons, Chairman of the District Chief Executives Network, monthly update can be downloaded below.

Monthly update March 2012

DCN Briefing on the National Planning Policy Framework

emmatucker — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:55:21 +0000

The District Councils’ Network has put together a briefing on the National Planning Policy Framework. This summarises the key aspects of the policy and the implications for district councils. Please download the briefing from the link below.

NPPF DCN Briefing

Neil Clarke’s Monthly Update

emmatucker — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:45:49 +0000

The DCN Chairman, Neil Clarke, has circulated his monthy update. The link below will take you to the full document.

Chairmans Monthly Update

DCN Assembly slides and handouts

emmatucker — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:40:09 +0000

Below you will find links to the DCN March Assembly meeting notes, slides and handouts.

March Assembly Notes

Item 4 and 8 Breakout Groups

Slides on Police and Crime Commissioners and Panels

Slides on The Big Bang (finance and council tax)

Handout on Councils Tax Benefit Localisation

Item 7 Localism Workshop

Slides on the Localism Act

Handout on the Localism Act

Community Infrastructure Levy

emmatucker — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:06:50 +0000

Today the DCN held a seminar on Community Infrastructure Levy. Below are the presentations from the speakers

William Richardson

Adrian Kerrison

David Philips

The DCN is looking for a new Policy Officer

emmatucker — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 07:00:27 +0000

The District Councils’ Network is looking for a new Policy Officer to support the increasing research-based lobbying work of the organisation. The network provides a single voice for districts to central government and other national organisations. We are a membership organisation and represent 186 district councils.

We are looking for a someone to build our capacity in this exciting new role – could this be you?

You will have excellent research and analytical skills, and be able to network and establish effective working relationships with the LGA and government bodies. You will be an excellent communicator – both written and in person. You will be educated to degree level and have direct experience of working for a local authority in a political environment.

You will have a flexible approach to work and be quick to use your own initiative. You will have great interpersonal skills and be self motivated. You will demonstrate an understanding of the strategic challenges faced by district councils and the services they provide.

Salary: £27,007

Hours: 37hrs per week

Post Ref: DCNPO13412

This position is a fixed term position for a minimum of one year

Job Description

Person Specification

Job Application Form

To discuss the post please contact Emma Tucker emma.tucker@local.gov.uk

Deadline for applications 12 noon, 13 April 2012.

Please submit applications to

emma.tucker@local.gov.uk

or send to

Emma Tucker
District Councils Network
Local Government House
Smith Square
London
SW1P 3HZ

If posting your application please allow plenty of time for delivery!

Universal Credit and Council Tax Benefit Event a success

emmatucker — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:29:21 +0000

The DCN events on Universal Credit and Council Tax Benefit were well attended and well recieved. The slides for the speakers can be found at the links below.

Item 3 Jeremy Groombridge

Item 3 Huw Meredith (Monday)

Item 4 Mike Heiser (Monday)

Item 5 Claire Cooper

Item 6 Meryl Young

Item 7 Sandra Cowley

The DCN has responded to the DEFRA consultation on household waste presentation

emmatucker — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:04:04 +0000

The District Councils’ Network has responded to the consultationon amending the powers of local authorities regarding presentation of waste for collection. The response can be found at the link below.

DCN response Waste presentation consultation

DCN responds to DoH consultation on Regulations for Healthwatch England Membership

emmatucker — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:03:17 +0000

The DCN has fully responded to the consultation on the regulations for Healthwatch England Membership. Below is the full response and covering letter.

DCN response to DoH Healthwatch England consultation

DCN Covering Letter DoH Healthwatch England consultation

Steve Atkinson’s Monthly Update

emmatucker — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:45:46 +0000

The monthly update from the Chairman of the District Chief Executives’ Network can be read below

DCEN Monthly update Feb 2012

Cllr Neil Clarke’s monthly update

emmatucker — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:55:39 +0000

The DCN Chairman, Neil Clarke’s monthly update can be read below.

DCN Chairmans monthly update Feb 12

DCN Briefing: Police and Crime Commissioners and Panels

emmatucker — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:15:34 +0000

To support members with the introduction of Police and Crime Panels and Commissioner the DCN has produced briefings touching on the key points.

Police and Crime Panels Briefing

Police and Crime Commissioners Briefing

Reinvigorating the Right to Buy

emmatucker — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:51:59 +0000

The District Councils’ Network has submitted it’s response to the consultation on reinvigorating the Right to Buy with one for one replacements. Read the full DCN response here.

Briefing on the governments audit proposals

emmatucker — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:56:17 +0000

Following the publication of the governments final proposals for the reform of external audit the DCN has put together the briefing below. This paper looks at the elements of the District Councils’ Network’s response to the consultation.

Future of Local Audit

Cllr Neil Clarke’s monthly update

emmatucker — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:37:43 +0000

Below is the Chairman of the District Councils’ Network’s monthly update

Chairman’s January Update

Community Infrastructure Levy advice note

emmatucker — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:29:53 +0000

The County Councils Network and the District Councils’ Network have worked together to produce a joint advice note on implementing Community Infrastructure Levy. The note draws on the work of Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire as the first CIL to be adopted in the country.

CIL good practice advice note

DCN response to the neighbourhood planning regulations consultation

emmatucker — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:45:53 +0000

The DCN has submitted a response to the consultation on neighbourhood planning regulations. To read our full response and covering letter see below.

Covering letter

DCN neighbourhood planning response

The DCN response to the consultation on Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations

emmatucker — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:59:43 +0000

The DCN has submitted their response to the consultation on Community Infrastructure Levy: detailed proposals and draft regulations for reform. To read the full response see below.

DCN response to the CIL Regulations

DCN Briefing on the Health and Social Care Bill 2011

emmatucker — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:12:30 +0000

The DCN has drafted the briefing below looking at the implications and issues of the Health and Social Care Bill for districts.

DCN Briefing on the Health and Social Care Bill 2011

DCN Government Housing Strategy Brief

emmatucker — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:14:42 +0000

The DCN has drafted the brief below on the Governments Housing Strategy.

DCN Government Housing Strategy Brief

Health and Wellbeing Survey

emmatucker — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:34:38 +0000

The District Councils’ Network recently surveyed member authorities on their experience of health and wellbeing boards. For a summary of the results please click the link below.

Health and wellbeing survey summary

Future Priorities of the DCN

emmatucker — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:17:18 +0000

The District Councils’ Network undertook a survey to establish what our future priorties and work should be. For the report please click the link below.

DCN Priorities Survey

Survey of Local Enterprise Partnerships

emmatucker — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:03:34 +0000

The District Councils’ Network recently asked members about their experience of Local Enterprise Partnerships. Click on the link below to read the full report.

LEP Survey report