News & Opinion
You can find here our press releases, consultation responses, briefings and newsletters – as well as opinion articles written by leading figures
DCN members to benefit from latest Levelling Up funding
The District Councils’ Network has welcomed the news that 12 of our member councils are to set to benefit from the ...
Chancellor urged by 119 councils to avert homelessness crisis
119 council leaders have signed a letter to the Chancellor calling on him to address the homelessness and ...
The maintenance of local discretion over recycling is a victory for common sense – DCN responds to Simpler Recycling announcement
The District Councils’ Network is pleased that the Government has listened to our concerns about the unintended ...
‘District councils have no choice but to cut back our lifeline services’
Survey reveals how inflation and rising demand for services is forcing district councils to make unpalatable ...
Reaction to PM’s speech: Top-down approach to waste must end
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the Prime Minister’s speech yesterday which suggested that ...
District councils top recycling league table
District councils top recycling league table
The success of district councils in recycling waste and reducing ...
We need certainty’ – DCN reacts to latest waste policy delay
The Government has today announced a one-year delay in implementing Extended Producer Responsibility for ...
DCN responds to Long-Term Plan for Towns
DCN has welcomed the news that 15 towns in district council areas are to receive funding through the Government’s ...
DCN responds to APPG on housing and planning’s inquiry
DCN has responded to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Planning’s inquiry into England's developer ...
Best Value: DCN’s response to Government consultation
DCN has responded to the Government's consultation on statutory guidance for local authorities on Best Value Duty, ...
‘Jobs and investment will suffer if district expertise is side-lined’ – DCN responds to LEPs’ axing
The District Councils’ Network has responded to the Government’s publication today of proposals to replace Local ...
‘Let’s not create the slums of tomorrow as we tackle today’s housing crisis’
The district council sector supports the Government’s commitment to build one million homes this Parliament – but ...
DCN welcomes Lords bid to localise devolution
The District Councils’ Network has welcomed a House of Lords move to ensure that devolution deals could genuinely ...
Infrastructure Levy ‘will not work’ – DCN responds
The District Councils’ Network is one of 30 signatories to a letter warning the Government that its plans for an ...
‘Empower us to stop short-term lets eroding our communities’
The DCN has urged Government action to set up a robust registration scheme for short-term lets, which member ...
DCN responds to launch of Oflog’s Data Explorer
The District Councils’ Network has today’s developments relating to the launch of Oflog, the Office for Local ...
Local councils should be free to devise their own workforce solutions
Councillor Sam Chapman-Allen, Chairman of the District Councils’ Network, said:
“Many councils are experiencing ...
‘We specialise in prevention’: report urges ICSs to utilise district expertise
District councils’ fundamental role in determining the health of their communities makes them “indispensable ...
DCN chairman’s levelling up vision published
DCN chairman Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen has offered a bold vision for levelling up in district council areas in a book ...
DISTRICT COUNCILS CALL FOR COUNCIL TAX RAISING POWERS FOR NEW HEALTH PRECEPT
District councils must be able to raise council tax by 2 per cent to invest in prevention measures that would help ...
District Council Response to COVID-19
District Council Response to the COVID-19 Illness
This is a fast-moving situation; the response to the Covid-19 ...
New Chairman of the District Councils’ Network announced
The new Chairman of the District Councils’ Network has been confirmed today as Cllr John Fuller.
Cllr Fuller, ...
New Chair and Vice Chair of DCN Chief Executive’s Group announced
A new Chair and Vice Chair of the District Councils’ Network’s Chief Executives’ Group have been appointed.
Paul ...