Which of the following is a responsibility of district councils?

District councils have a variety of responsibilities relating to local governance and service provision to communities. One of their key areas of responsibility is environmental health. This encompasses a range of functions aimed at protecting public health and improving living conditions, which include monitoring food hygiene, waste management, pollution control, and public health safety standards.

The other options relate to responsibilities that typically fall under different levels of governance. For example, highways maintenance is primarily a responsibility of county councils or higher levels of local government rather than district councils. Passenger transport is often overseen by transport authorities and regional bodies that coordinate transit services across larger areas. Economic development initiatives may be a collaborative effort involving multiple layers of government or specific economic development agencies rather than solely within the purview of district councils. Thus, environmental health stands out as a direct responsibility of district councils within the framework of local government services.