District Councils' Network

"In Germany, there are 16 states, 294 counties, and around 11,000 municipalities." So points out Ian Fytche, chief exec of North Kesteven District Council, in an article on the English Devolution White Paper for Local Government Chronicle. While Germany has a population of under 7,000 per council, the white paper proposes new unitaries of 500,000. "The UK is an outlier when it comes to local government structures in Europe," writes Ian. "Size is irrelevant when it comes to efficiency. Yet size is far from irrelevant for the quality of democratic engagement and the connection that people feel to those elected to represent them. The smaller the council, the more likely it is that people feel engaged in the democratic process and able to influence the decisions that affect their communities." Thank you Ian for this powerful article - and good luck in the future following your impending departure from North Kesteven. https://lnkd.in/euumNq72

🏘️ Launch event: 'A Blueprint to Tackle the Affordable Housing Crisis' 📋 After months of roundtables with councils, trusted partners, think tanks and housing experts, we've created a new vision for delivering social and affordable homes. 🔵 Our blueprint brings together insights from 164 district councils and leading sector voices to tackle the housing crisis head-on 🎯 ⏰ 20th January, 3-4pm 🔍 Featuring: - Cllr Hannah Dalton, DCN Vice Chair - Mari Roberts-Wood, Chief Executive, Reigate and Banstead BC - Dr Janice Morphet, UCL 💡 Hear our innovative solutions for: - Boosting social and affordable housing supply - Reforming planning - Making better use of existing homes 🔗 Register now: DCN Report Launch: https://lnkd.in/eKFNx6M9

The English Devolution White Paper proposes replacing England’s 164 district councils – the tier of principal government closest to communities – with large new unitary councils with populations over half a million. DCN accepts there is a case for structural reform but we believe local government needs to remain local. Strong localised delivery units should be the building blocks of combined authorities. The Government suggests a minimum population size of 500,000 for new unitary councils. This would lead to geographically vast councils that are remote from local communities. All but a handful of existing unitary councils in England are smaller than this. All areas must be given the time and space to come up with proposals that reflect local circumstances and will demonstrably make life better for their residents. Evidence that previous reorganisation has saved money or improved delivery is patchy. We are also concerned about the potential for reorganisation to be disruptive, hitting the delivery of local services, as has been the case in the past. And we are concerned that social care’s funding crisis may mean that new unitary councils have little option but to cut back place-based services such as housing, economic development, employment support and homelessness prevention. DCN is keen to work with the Government and our members to develop local proposals that are ambitious and effective. That means new unitary councils must be small enough to be genuinely local, democratically accountable and focused on delivery. That is the best way to make devolution a success everywhere and deliver on the promise of jobs, homes, growth and better health that is in everyone’s interests. You can read our full white paper response here: https://lnkd.in/eWk7sG2z

📺 Watch the first in a selection of hugely powerful and moving testimonies from talented former and current district councillors, including from Baroness Dorothy Thornhill, Cllr Hannah Dalton and The Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP on why more people should stand for election to local government 👇 (With huge thanks to our videographers, Jack Edwards and Ella Wilkinson from South Norfolk Council and Broadland District Council)

Yesterday, the District Councils' Network celebrated 🎉 130 years of a woman's right to stand as a district councillor. We explored how to improve representation and encourage more people to stand. 👏 Thank you to our event compere, Cllr Hannah Dalton, DCN Vice Chair and Leader of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council 👏 A huge thank you to all who attended and to our inspiring speakers, who shared their own personal stories and experiences with us: 🎙️ The Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, former Chair of the Women & Equalities Committee and former Test Valley Borough Council councillor. 🎙️ Baroness Dorothy Thornhill, Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson and former directly-elected Mayor of Watford Borough Council 🎙️ Cllr Susan Brown, Vice Chair of the District Councils' Network and Leader of Oxford City Council 🎙️ James Hood, Director of the District Councils' Network 🎙️ Vikki Slade MP, Liberal Democrat housing, communities and local government spokesperson and former leader of BCP Council 🎙️ Cllr Nanda Manley-Browne, Chair of 50:50 Parliament's Diversity Committee and Cabinet Member at the London Borough of Lambeth 🎙️ Cllr Abi Brown OBE, Chair of the Local Government Association's Improvement & Innovation Board, Deputy Chair of the LGA Conservatives and Deputy Chair of the LGA. 🎙️ Cllr Wendy Fredericks MIoL, Deputy Leader of North Norfolk District Council 🎙️ Hannah Stevens, Chief Executive of ElectHER 🎙️ Tamsin Hewett, Adviser (Improvement - Innovation & Leadership) at Local Government Association 🎙️ Deborah Cadman OBE DL BSc MSc MA, former Chief Executive of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Suffolk County Council, Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Combined Authority Thank you also to Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association and Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and The Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP, Minister for Women & Equalities for their video messages.

We're delighted to be celebrating 130 years of a woman's right to stand tomorrow. ⏳ There is still time to sign up to attend and hear from our inspirational speakers 👇

We teamed up with Capita today to host an insightful roundtable today on locating land for housing development. District councils are committed to ensuing much needed homes are build - but many find that land is in short supply. It's good to hear of officers' commitment to finding land and enthusiasm to form partnerships with developers and builders. Thank you to Edward Crouch CIHM and everyone else at Capita for your support - and to our attendees for braving rail chaos to share your expertise.

This December we mark 130 years of a woman's right to stand. The 1894 Local Government Act gave women the right to stand for district councils for the first time. ⏳ There is still time to register 📝 and join the District Councils' Network to celebrate this historic anniversary and explore how we can encourage more people to consider standing for election on Thursday 12 December from 10.30-3pm. Our inspirational speakers include: 🎙️The Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, former Chair of the Women & Equalities Committee and former Test Valley Borough Council councillor. 🎙️ Baroness Dorothy Thornhill, Liberal Democrat Lords spokesperson and former directly elected Mayor Watford Borough Council 🎙️ Cllr Abi Brown OBE, Chair, Local Government Association's Improvement & Innovation Board, Deputy Leader of the LGA Conservative Group & Deputy Chair of the LGA. 🎙️ Vikki Slade MP, Liberal Democrat housing, communities and local government spokesperson 🎙️ Cllr Hannah Dalton, DCN Vice Chair (Independent Group) and Leader of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council 🎙️ Cllr Susan Brown, DCN Vice Chair (Labour) and Leader of Oxford City Council 🎙️ Cllr Bridget Z D Smith Smith, DCN Vice Chair (Liberal Democrat) and Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council 🎙️ Trevor Holden, DCN Chief Executive Chair and Managing Director of South Norfolk and Broadland District Councils 🎙️ Hannah Stevens, Chief Executive, ElectHER 🎙️ Lyanne Nicholl, Chief Executive, 50:50 Parliament 🎙️ Deborah Cadman OBE DL BSc MSc MA, former Chief Executive of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Suffolk County Council and Birmingham City Council Register 🖊️ here 👇 https://lnkd.in/e4QEiUjw

👇 In case you missed it - Last week we hosted a packed parliamentary reception to celebrate 50 years of #districtcouncils’ and our ongoing work to improve the lives of our residents and communities.   🥳 With more than 40 parliamentarians in attendance, it was fantastic to celebrate everything our members are doing!   🤝 We were delighted to welcome Jim McMahon OBE MP, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, to speak to our members about the innovation and excellence they are delivering for their communities. It was also a pleasure to welcome Baroness Sharon Taylor, Lords Minister for MHCLG and our former Vice Chair.   🏛️It was great to hear from the departments about the Government's ambitions to deliver English devolution and resetting the relationship with local government

A huge thank you to all our councils and partners who exhibited last night at District Councils' Network's parliamentary reception & fair to showcase best practice by districts across the country: ◾ South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership ◾ Reigate & Banstead Borough Council ◾ Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils ◾ Rochford District Council and Brentwood Borough Council ◾ South Norfolk and Broadland District Councils ◾ North Norfolk District Council ◾ Cheltenham Borough Council ◾ Breckland Council ◾ Oxford City Council ◾ Wychavon District Council ◾ Stratford Upon Avon District Council ◾ St Albans City & District Council ◾ Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils ◾ Three Rivers District Council ◾ Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council ◾ Local Government Association Thank you to our host, George Freeman FRSA MP, and our sponsors, CCLA Investment Management and Capita for making the event possible.