News & Opinion
You can find here our press releases, consultation responses, briefings and newsletters – as well as opinion articles written by leading figures

‘Individual councils should decide whether remote meetings are held’
The District Councils’ Network has responded to local government minister Jim McMahon’s call for a discussion on ...

New homes must meet the needs of our communities – not developersÂ
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the Deputy Prime Minister’s statement on house building and ...

DCN responds to Angela Rayner’s call for devolution proposals
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the letter from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to unitary and ...

DCN responds to the King’s Speech
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the announcement of the new Government’s legislative programme in ...

District councils warn Right to Buy is worsening the social housing crisis
 The District Councils' Network (DCN) is calling for reform of Right to Buy to be prioritised in the King’s Speech ...

Let’s work together to get homes built
The District Councils’ Network has welcomed the Chancellor’s commitment to kickstart growth and take action to ...

‘All areas need to be part of the devolution conversation’
The District Councils’ Network has responded to this morning’s Downing Street meeting of regional mayors.
Cllr ...

‘Collaboration drives change’ – DCN’s message to our new Government
District councils eagerly look forward to working with the new Government to continue transforming our ...

District councils: our offer to the next Government
DCN has unveiled a prospectus setting out how district councils can work with the next Government.
You can read ...

Congratulations to Great Yarmouth, the Council of the Year!
Great Yarmouth Borough Council was named Council of the Year at the LGC Awards last night.
The Norfolk district ...

Independence for Oflog ‘will boost improvement’
Independence from Government will ensure a fuller role for Oflog driving the improvement of councils, Trevor ...

Recycling reform jeopardised by inadequate funding and unrealistic deadlines
Funding shortfalls and unrealistic timelines could jeopardise the Government’s Simpler Recycling reforms, the ...

Surge in children in temporary accommodation sparks concernÂ
The District Councils' Network (DCN) is calling for immediate action to ensure councils can afford to support ...

Time to celebrate 50 years of being close to our communities
Easter Monday is the fiftieth anniversary of the most localised principal tier of England’s local government ...
‘New lorries and bins will add to councils’ financial woes’
Government urged to listen to councils’ concerns about insufficient funding and unrealistic deadlines for waste ...

‘A missed opportunity’: DCN responds to the Budget
In response to the Budget, Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Chairman of the District Councils’ Network, said:
“Today’s ...

Cllr Bridget Smith: ‘Communities support green energy’
Cllr Bridget Smith, Vice Chair of the District Councils’ Network and Leader of South Cambridgeshire District ...

‘Well-run councils will have to make counterproductive cuts’
The Chancellor has been urged to take targeted action to avoid counterproductive cuts to essential services at ...

DCN responds to extra Government funding
The District Councils’ Network has welcomed extra Government funding for its member councils, which was announced ...

NPPF response: We want to deliver the right homes for our communities
In response to the Government's announcement of reform to the National Planning Policy Framework, a District ...

“The last thing we want to do is to scale back preventative and value-adding services” – DCN Response to the local government finance policy statement
The District Councils’ Network has responded to this afternoon’s Government local government finance policy ...

DCN responds to parliamentary inquiry on disabled people in the housing sector
DCN has responded to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee's inquiry into ‘Disabled people in the ...

Autumn Statement: DCN welcomes local housing allowance and planning boosts
The Government has today announced significant extra funding to ease homelessness pressures in response to a ...