Councils are not defined by lines on a map, but by their service to local communities. It is therefore right that we periodically consider whether our current system best achieves this.
The Budget reopened the question of structural reform, not just in local government, but all public services. This is not something district councils should shy away from. The same is true for other types of councils. The District Councils' Network (DCN) will engage fully with the Government on the issue, as well as with our local government peers, and – most importantly – our local people.
Attempts at structural change in recent years suggest it is not a panacea for resolving the challenges the sector faces, in particular the soaring cost of adult social care, children's services and homelessness
Done well, structural reform could strengthen local democracy, modernise public services and help improve financial sustainability. Done badly, it will result in power moving further away from the people, fail to tackle service delivery silos and have no impact on finance.
Attempts at structural change in recent years suggest it is not a panacea for resolving the challenges the sector faces, in particular the soaring cost of adult social care, children's services and homelessness. Shifting council boundaries is likely to result in value-adding preventative services such as leisure, housing, community outreach and social prescription being deprioritised to plug budget gaps for social care and other statutory services.
If we're serious about creating local services that meet the needs of the future, we need to think more comprehensively about public service reform. We need to look beyond councils and integrate all public services that can best be delivered locally: health, employment support, transport, police, fire, and Environment Agency functions. There is scope to truly localise these services and finally make them accountable to communities.
If powers merely move from highly localised district councils to larger county or regional bodies, this risks taking the local out of local government. Strong, localised bodies – be they district councils or something new – are the logical building blocks of mayoral combined authorities.
So let the debate begin. There is scope to modernise and for us all – including the DCN – to challenge long-held views. The one thing I won't compromise on is my belief in a localist future.
Sam Chapman-Allen is chairman of the District Councils' Network
