Parish/Town Council Powers

This is not an exhaustive list. The list below is set as follows.

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 providingv 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

Telecommunications 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 Public Health Act 1936, s.125

Well-Being
Power to well-being of the area (for eligible councils)
s2 and 4 of the Local Government Act 2000 (as amended by Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007)