LEGAL POWERS OF PARISH COUNCILS

Function

Powers and Duties Statutory Provision
Allotments Powers to provide allotments

Duty to consider providing allotment gardens if demand unsatisfied

Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908 Section 23
Baths and wash houses Power to provide public baths and wash houses Public Health Act 1936 Sections 2221, 222, 223, 227
Burial grounds, cemeteries and crematoria Power to acquire, provide and maintain

Power to agree to maintain monuments and memorials

Power to contribute towards expenses of cemeteries

Open Spaces Act 1906 Sections 9 and 10

Parish Councils and Burial Authorities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1970 Section 1

Bus Shelters Power to provide and maintain shelters Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953 Section 4

Parish Councils Act 1957 Section 1

Bye laws Power to provide bye laws for:-  
Pleasure grounds Public Health Act 1875 Section 164
Cycle parks Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 Section 57 (7)
Baths and wash houses Public Health Act 1936 Section 223
Open spaces and burial grounds Open Spaces Act 1906 Section 15
Charities Duties regarding parochial charities Open Spaces Act 1906 Section 15
Christmas Lights Power to provide to attract visitors Local Government Act 1972 Section 144
Citizens Advice Bureau Power to support Local Government Act 1972 Section 142
Clocks Power to provide public clocks Parish Councils Act 1957 Section 2
Closed churchyards Powers to maintain Local Government Act 1972 Section 215
Commons and common pastures Powers in relation to enclosure, regulation and management and providing common pasture Inclosure Act 1845

Local Government Act 1894 Section 8(4)

Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908 Section 34

Conference facilities Power to provide and encourage the use of facilities Local Government Act 1972 Section 144
Community Centres Power to provide and equip community buildings

 

Power to provide buildings for use of clubs having athletic, social or educational objectives

Local Government Act 1972 Section 133

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 Section 19

Crime prevention Powers to spend money on various crime prevention measures Local Government and Rating Act 1997 Section 31
Drainage Power to deal with ponds and ditches Public Health Act 1936 Section 260
Entertainment and the Arts Provision of entertainment and support of the arts including festivals and celebrations Local Government Act 1972 Section 145
Gifts Power to accept Local Government Act 1972 Section 139
Highways Powers to repair and maintain public footpaths and bridleways Highways Act 1980 Sections 43 and 50
Power to light roads and public places Parish Councils Act 1957 Section 3
Power to provide parking places for vehicles, bicycles and motor cycles Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 Section 57
Power to enter into agreement as to dedication and widening Highways Act 1980 Section 30
Powers to provide roadside seats Parish Councils Act 1957 Section 1
Power to complain to district councils regarding protection of rights of way and roadside wastes Highways Act 1980 Section 130
Power to provide traffic signs and other notices Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 Section 72
Power to plant trees etc. and to maintain roadside verges Highways Act 1980 Section 96
Investments Power to participate in schemes for collective treatment Trustee 1961 Section 11
Land Power to acquire by agreement, to appropriate, to dispose of land Local Government Act 1972 Sections 124, 126, 127
Power to accept gifts of land Local Government Act 1972 Section 139
Litter Provision to provide receptacles Litter Act 1963 Sections 5 and 6
Lotteries Powers to promote Lotteries and Amusement Act 1976 Section 7
Mortuaries and post mortem rooms Powers to provide mortuaries and post mortem rooms Public Health Act 1936 Section 198
Newsletters Power to provide information relating to matters affecting local government Local Government Act 1972 Section 142
Nuisances Power to deal with offensive ditches Public Health Act 1936 Section 260

Public Health Act 1875 Section 164

Open spaces Power to acquire land and maintain Open Spaces Act 1906 Sections 9 and 10
Parish property and documents Powers to direct as to their custody Local Government Act 1972 Section 226
Postal and telecommunications facilities Power to pay public telecommunications operators any loss sustained providing post or telegraph office or telecommunication facilities Post Office Act 1953 Section 51

Telecommunications Act 1984 Section 97

Public buildings and village halls Power to provide buildings for offices and public meetings and assemblies Local Government Act 1972 Section 133
Public conveniences Power to provide Public Health Act 1936 Section 87
Parks, pleasure grounds Power to acquire land or to provide recreation grounds, public walks, pleasure grounds and open spaces and to manage and control them Public Health Act 1875 Section 164 (Local Government Act 1972 Schedule 14 para 27)

Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1890 Section 44

Open Spaces Act 1906 Sections 9 and 10

Recreation Power to provide a wide range of recreational facilities Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 Section 19
Provision of boating pools Public Health Act 1961 Section 54
Town and Country Planning Right to be notified of planning applications Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Schedule 1 para 8
Tourism Power to contribute to organisations encouraging tourism Local Government Act 1972 Section 144
Traffic Calming Powers to contribute financially to traffic calming schemes Local Government and Rating Act 1997 Section 26
Transport Powers to spend money on community transport schemes Local Government and Rating Act 1997 Sections 26 - 29
Village Signs Power to use decorative signs to inform visitors Local Government Act 1972 Section 144
War Memorials Power to maintain, repairs, protect and adapt war memorials War Memorials (Local Authorities' Powers) Act 1923, Section 1 as extended by Local Government Act 1948 Section 133
Water supply Power to use well, spring or stream and to provide facilities for obtaining water therefrom Public Health Act 1936 Section 125