Over 100 engage with ministers

Over 100 representatives of DCN councils met with MPs and peers last night at a reception in Parliament.

The event gave leaders, chief executives and other senior figures of DCN councils an opportunity to engage with parliamentarians on the biggest issues they face and the opportunities they offer.

Issues which featured in conversations included our preventative work, for instance to combat homelessness; the need to improve funding for temporary accommodation and to remove the barriers to council house building; and the benefits of districts’ closeness to our communities.

The event - kindly supported by CCLA, Capita and Zebra - was attended by ministers Lee Rowley, Simon Hoare and Stuart Andrew.

Among the other MPs in attendance were Sir Brandon Lewis, Anneliese Dodds, Ben Everitt, Sir Peter Bottomley, Gagan Mohindra, Liz Twist and Sir John Hayes.

The peers in attendance included Baroness Bottomley, Baroness Cathy Bakewell, Baroness Taylor and Lord Porter.

Sir Brandon, Chair of the All-Party District Council Group, said the meeting demonstrated the strength of districts to ministers.

Thank you to everyone who attended for making such a strong case for the value of district councils.