Powers and Duties of the Parish Council
Function
Powers & Duties
Statutory Provisions
Access land
Power to enforce byelaws made by another authority
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, s. 17
Allotments
Duty to provide allotments. Power to improve and adapt land for allotments, and to let grazing rights
Small Holdings & Allotments Act 1908, ss. 23, 26, and 42
Baths and washhouses
Powers relating to provision of public baths, washhouses and bathing huts
Public Health Act 1936, ss. 221 - 223 and 225 - 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
OpeLocal Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) 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 Conveniences
Public Health Act 1875, s. 164
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s.57(7)
Public Health Act 1936, s.223
Open Spaces Act 1906, ss.15 and 12
Public Health Act 1936, s.198
Public Health Act 1936, s. 87
Clocks
Power to provide public clocks
Parish Councils Act 1957, s.2
Closed churchyards
Powers as to maintenance
Commons Act 1899, s.5
Commons
Power for parish council to contribute to expense relating to scheme for the regulation and management of a common.
Commons Act 1899, s.5
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
Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s.31
Drainage
Power to deal with ponds and ditches
Public Health Act 1936, s.260
Entertainment and the arts
Provision of entertainment and support of the arts
Local Government Act 1972, s.145
Financial assistance
Duty to require information
Local Government Act 1972, s.137A
General powers
Power to incur expenditure for certain purposes
Local Government Act 1972, s.137
Gifts
Power to accept
Local Government Act 1972, s.139
Highways
Power to maintain footpaths and bridleways
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
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
Litter Act 1983, ss.5,6
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
Public buildings and village hall
Power to provide buildings for public meetings and assemblies
Local Government Act 1972, s.133
Public conveniences
Powers relating to provision of public conveniences
Public Health Act 1936, s.87
Recreation
Power to acquire land for or to provide public walks, pleasure grounds and open spaces and to manage and control them
Power to provide gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps
Provision of boating pools
(see Local Government Act 1972,
Sched.14 para.27)
Public Health Act 1875, s.164
Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1890 s.44
Open Spaces Act 1906, ss.9 and 10
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, s.19
Public Health Act 1961, s.54
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