Stronger Economies

Overview

Districts are integral to the UK’s future prosperity as the Planning, Housing and Growth Authorities, growing the national economy, one local economy at a time.

The project group

The workstreams are currently undergoing a refresh, and new workstream members will be confirmed shortly.

Our workplan priorities include:

  • Taking forward economic growth proposals highlighted in the DCN and Grant Thornton Transformation toolkit
  • Ensuring that districts are at the heart of the creation of local Industrial Strategies
  • Influencing the Government’s LEP review, working with the LEP Network and Centre for Public Scrutiny to share best practice
  • Ensuring local areas continue to receive flexible funding for local needs, including post-Brexit
  • Working with Homes England and the Town and Country Planning Association to share best practice on garden settlements
  • Working to ensure that incentives for housing growth remain, and that the central role of districts in enabling housing is recognised
  • Engaging in the draft revised NPPF consultation, the Letwin Review and the MCHLG Select Committee investigation into land value capture
  • Calling for clarity on and responding to the review consultation on the Community Infrastructure Levy

DCN UPDATES

Council tax: ‘Our logo is on the bill but we’re not getting the funding’

Council tax: ‘Our logo is on the bill but we’re not getting the funding’   Funding for police and crime commissioners (PCCs) now takes up a greater proportion of many council tax bills than funding for the council issuing the...
Read More

Districts’ expertise must be embraced if Hunt’s growth plan is to be optimised

Districts’ expertise must be embraced if Hunt’s growth plan is to be optimised Jeremy Hunt’s Budget has the potential to empower local places to drive growth if the Government embraces the unique power of district councils – as the most...
Read More

‘New funding will save many leisure centres – for now’

The District Councils’ Network is pleased that the Government has listened to our call to support the crisis-hit leisure sector. As part of the Spring Budget, the Treasury has announced a one-year £63m fund will support leisure centres with pools,...
Read More

First anniversary of Homes for Ukraine: councils discuss their support for Ukrainians

The anniversary of the Homes for Ukraine scheme being launched has highlighted the work of councils to help support Ukrainians escaping war. English councils have strived to offer sanctuary to nearly 86,000 Ukrainians who have fled Putin’s invasion under the...
Read More

District councils will thrive with financial freedom

District councils will thrive with financial freedom There is a balance to be struck between financial prudence and securing future growth opportunities, writes Kelly Watson, Head of Local Government Relationships at CCLA, in response to a CCLA/DCN roundtable on district...
Read More