Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
This is the final DCN newsletter for 2014 and so we want to take the opportunity to thank you for all your support over the last 12 months and to to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
2014 has been a challenging year for many. Districts continue to innovate and collaborate to meet these challenges and the DCN is working hard on your behalf to promote the significant role that district councils play.
As usual our newsletter contains updates on all our priority areas of work.
New ways of working
As many of you have seen we have now published INLOGOV's call for evidence
We are lookng for projects that:
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Are transformational and not transactional
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Involve a range of partners
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Focussed on delivering better and/or cheaper services and outcomes
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Focussed on governance across a geography
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Focussed on becoming more commercial
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Highlight the unique role that districts play
We want this research to be evidence based and to do that we need your help. This is your chance to showcase your district council and for us to demonstrate the vital role that district councils can and do play now and in the future of local government.
Please fill in our online survey about your project. The deadline is Friday 16 January.
DCLG consultation
DCLG has just launched its consultation on proposals to use a legislative reform order to give local authorities greater flexibility in forming a combined authority or economic prosperity board. The deadline is 26 January 2015. DCN will be submitting a response on behalf of our members.
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Financial independence
The DCN welcomed some of the anouncements in the Autumn Statement including the commitment to multiyear budgets. However we would have welcomed more announcements on reforms to the local government finance system and on fiscal devolution within England. The key points from the statement were:
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No further cuts in local government spending in 2015/16.
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Indicative multiyear budgets as soon as possible after the next spending review.
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The forecast for public spending to 2019/20 remians tough.
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The Government will conduct a review of the future structure of business rates to report by budget 2016.
Business rates
The Government has launched 2 new consultations on business rates which the DCN will be responding to:
The deadline for both of these consultations is 28 February 2015.
New Homes Bonus
On 16 December DCLG published its evaluation of the New Homes Bonus and the allocations for 2015/16.
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Planning
We held a successful event on Tuesday 25 November for our members on fracking. This event aimed to present the facts about fracking and featured presentations from British Geological Survey, Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Campaign to Protect Rural England. You can see a copy of all the presentations from the day here.
Consultations
The DCN has responded to the DCLG's right to build consultation. You can view our full reponse here.
We will also be providing a response to the governments consultation on their proposals to free up the planning system to provide more low cost, high quality starter homes for first time buyers. details of the consultation can be found here.
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Quality of Life
We have refreshed our suite of publications to highlight the contrubution that district councils make to public health.
The TCPA and PHE have recently published a document which has been supported by the District Councils' Network. This is the next stage of the reuniting health with planning initiative to look at ways in which planning and the development of the built environment can contribute to encouraging healthier populations. You can view a copy of the full report 'Planning healthy weight environments' here.
The LGA, ADASS and Department of Health produce a care and support reform bulletin. if you would like to sign up this or just read the latest edition you can do that here.
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Economic Growth
The Independent Commission on Economic Growth and the Future of Public Services in Non-Metropolitan England published its interim report 'How the other half grows' at the end of November.
The report is calling for further evidence on eight key themes to inform its final report. The DCN is working on a response to these and if you have any comments or case studies you would like us to include please contact us on dcn@local.gov.uk We would also encourage districts to submit an individual response to this.
We are currently putting together plans for a DCN event to take place in spring next year looking at how districts work with LEPs to plan for growth. This will bring together two of our priority work areas - economic growth and planning. We will share further details when we have finalised them.
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In This Issue
DCN Assembly
The next DCN Assembly is taking place on:
Tuesday 27 January 2015 from 11.30 am to 4.30 pm at Local Government House
Kris Hopkins MP and Andy Sawford MP are confirmed as our keynote speakers.
This event is open to all DCN Members and you can book online using our booking form.
Tweet of the month
let's celebrate everything that is great about districts and share all the hardwork that we do today and every day #OurDay
Case study of the month
Leading Through Partnership - Mole Valley District Council:
A project bringing together the functions of a district council and county council to work effectively across boundaries for the benefit of local residents and businesses.
Read the full case study here.
LGA digital experts funded programme
The LGA is launching a programme to help more councils to benefit from the technology and digital tools successfully implemented by other councils. This programme is to help support councils to learn from their peers and to quickly implement what works elsewhere. Funding is available for projects that meet the criteria and further details can be found here.
The deadline for applicaitons to digitalexperts@local.gov.uk is noon on Friday 23 January 2015.
LGA workshop on unmanaged devices and PSN
Councils have faced the issue of how to achieve public service network (PSN) where unmanaged devices or bring your own device (BYOD) are enabled for all or some of their services. The LGA are hosting a workshop on:
Friday 9 January 2015 in London
This will share current good practise, explore some of the issues and look at how the compliance process is evolving to meet the future user needs of local authorities and their partners. Register for your place here.
Leadership Essentials sports programme
The LGA and Sport England have jointly organised the Leadership Essentials programme specifically developed for Portfolio Holders/Cabinet Members with a responsibility for sport. The next programme is taking place on:
Wednesday 11 - Thursday 12 October, Westwood Hall, Leeds
Find out more and book your place here.
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