Parish Council Powers & Duties

Function Powers & Duties Statutory Provisions
Allotments Duty to provide allotments.

Power to improve and adapt land for allotments, and to let grazing rights

Small Holding & Allotments Act 1908, ss. 23, 26, and 42
Baths and washhouses Power to provide public baths and washhouses Public Health Act 1936, ss. 221, 222, 223 and 227
Burial grounds, cemeteries and crematoria Power to acquire and maintain

Power to provide

Power to agree to maintain monuments and memorials

Power to contribute towards expenses of cemeteries

Open Spaces Act 1906, Ss 9 and 10; Local Government Act 1972, s. 214; Parish Councils and Burial Authorities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1970, s.1

Local Government Act 1972, s. 214(6)

Bus shelters Power to provide and maintain shelters Local Government (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 1953, s. 4
Bye-laws Power to make bye-laws in regard to pleasure grounds

Cycle parks

Baths and washhouses

Open spaces and burial grounds

Mortuaries and post-mortem rooms

Public Health Act 1875, s. 164

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s.57(7)

Public Health Act 1936, s.223

Open Spaces Act 1906, s.15

Public Health Act 1936, s.198

Clocks Power to provide public clocks Parish Councils Act 1957, s.2
Closed churchyards Powers as to maintenance Local Government Act 1972, s.215
Common pastures Powers in relation to providing common pasture Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908, s.34
Conference facilities Power to provide and encourage the use of facilities Local Government Act 1972, s.144
Community centres Power to provide and equip buildings for use of clubs having athletic, social or recreational objectives Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 s.19
Crime Prevention Powers to install and maintain equipment and establish and maintain a scheme for detection or prevention of crime

Power to contribute to police services e.g. PCSOs

Duty on Parish Councils to consider crime reduction in every policy and action

Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s.31

Police Act 1996, s.92

s17 Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (as amended)

Drainage Power to deal with ponds and ditches Public Health Act 1936, s.260
Dogs Power to make a Dog Control Order

Power to take enforcement action against those who commit an offence against a Dog Control Order

Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005
Entertainment and the arts Provision of entertainment and support of the arts Local Government Act 1972, s.145
Flyposting and Graffiti Power to take enforcement action against those that flypost or graffiti Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005
Gifts Power to accept Local Government Act 1972, s.139
Highways Power to maintain footpaths and bridle-ways

Power to light roads and public places

Provision of litter bins

Powers to provide parking places for bicycles and motor-cycles, and other vehicles

Power to enter into agreement as to dedication and widening

Power to provide roadside seats and shelters

Consent of parish council required for ending maintenance of highway at public expense, or for stopping up or diversion of highway

Power to complain to highway authority as to unlawful stopping up or obstruction of highway or unlawful encroachment on roadside wastes

Power to provide traffic signs and other objects or devices warning of danger

Power to plant trees and lay out grass verges etc. and to maintain them

Highways Act 1980, ss.43,50

Parish Councils Act 1957, s.3;

Highways Act 1980, s.301

Litter Act 1983, ss.5,6

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, ss.57,63

Highways Act 1980, ss.30,72

Parish Councils Act 1957, s.1

Highways Act 1980, ss.47,116

Highways Act 1980, s.130

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s.72

Highways Act 1980, s.96

Investments Power to participate in schemes of collective investment Trustee Investments Act 1961, s.11
Land Power to acquire by agreement, to appropriate, to dispose of

Power to accept gifts of land

Local Government Act 1972, ss.124, 126, 127

Local Government Act 1972, s.139

Litter Provision of receptacles

Power to take enforcement action against those that litter

Litter Act 1983, ss.5,6

Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005

Lotteries Powers to promote Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976, s.7
Mortuaries and post mortem rooms Powers to provide mortuaries and post mortem rooms Public Health Act 1936, s.198
Open spaces Power to acquire land and maintain Public Health Act 1875, s.164 Open Spaces Act 1906, ss.9 and 10
Parish documents Powers to direct as to their custody Local Government Act 1972, s.226
Telecoms facilities Power to pay public telecommunications operators any loss sustained providing telecommunication facilities Telecommunications Act 1984, s.97
Public buildings and village hall Power to provide buildings for public meetings and assemblies Local Government Act 1972, s.133
Public conveniences Power to provide Public Health Act 1936, s.87
Sustainable communities Able to be represented on a panel of representatives to be consulted on proposals that would contribute to sustainable communities Sustainable Communities Act 2007
Town and country planning Right to be notified of planning applications Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Sched.1, para. 8
Tourism Power to encourage visitors and provide conference and other facilities Local Government Act 1972, s.144
Traffic calming Powers to contribute financially to traffic calming schemes Highways Act 1980, s.274A
Transport Powers in relation to car-sharing schemes, taxi fare concessions and information about transport

Powers to make grants for bus services

Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s.26, 28 and 29

Transport Act 1985, s.106A

War memorials Power to maintain, repair, protect and alter war memorials War Memorials (Local Authorities’ Powers) Act 1923, s.1; as extended by Local Government Act 1948, s.133
Water supply Power to utilise well, spring or stream and to provide facilities for obtaining water from them Public Health Act 1936, s.125