Council Powers
A local council is a statutory local authority in its own right, having a fairly wide variety of powers conferred by many statues. Although its powers are not as extensive as those of county and district councils, a local council should not be regarded as being subordinate to either of those tiers of local government. A local council, being at grass roots level, has an important role in the local government field, representing the community which it is elected to serve.
- Provision and management of ALLOTMENTS
- Development of the ARTS
- Provision and management of public BATHS and WASH-HOUSES (including launderettes)
- Provision and operation of BURIAL GROUNDS, cemeteries and crematoria
- Provision and maintenance of BUS SHELTERS
- Provision of BYELAWS relating to pleasure grounds, public walks, open spaces, baths, wash-houses, swimming pools
- Matters relating to CHARITIES
- Provision, maintenance and lighting of public CLOCKS
- Maintenance of closed CHURCHYARDS
- Provision, equipment and management of COMMUNITY CENTRES (including village halls)
- Payment of expenses for attendance at CONFERENCES and courses
- CONTRACTS for discharge of functions
- Draining, cleansing and treatment of DITCHES and DRAINS (including ponds, pools, streams, gutters)
- EMPLOYMENT of persons
- Provision of ENTERTAINMENTS (eg theatres, concert halls, dance halls and maintenance of bands or orchestras
- Erection of FLAGPOLES
- Public FOOTPATHS and bridleways (including creation by agreement with landowner, repair and maintenance, erection of direction posts, erection of notices warning of local dangers, prosecution for unlawful ploughing of a path or failure to restore after ploughing)
- HIGHWAYS: agreements for dedication of highway over land, planting of trees, shrubs, etc, and laying out grass verges in highway
- Provision of INFORMATION on services
- LAND: acquisition, appropriation and disposal; acceptance of gifts of property
- LEGAL PROCEEDINGS: prosecution, defence and appearances, for promotion or protection of the interests of inhabitants
- Provision of certain LIGHTING
- Prosecutions for dropping LITTER in public places, FLY POSTING and GRAFFITI
- Provision of LITTER BINS
- Organisation of LOCAL LOTTERIES
- Provision and maintenance of PARKING PLACES
- Financial support for maintenance of local POSTAL and telephone facilities
- Provision and maintenance of PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
- Appearance at PUBLIC INQUIRIES
- Contributions to MUSEUMS and art galleries
- PUBLIC OFFICES: provision, use and letting for the parish
- Provision of RECREATION including pleasure grounds, parks and public walks, playing fields, recreation centres, tennis courts, squash courts, boating, youth shelters
- Provision and maintenance of roadside SEATS and SHELTERS
- Making of STANDING ORDERS for regulation of proceedings and business as to contracts
- Promotion of TOURISM
- Maintenance, repair and protection of WAR MEMORIALS
- Limited powers to provide WATER SUPPLY
- Promotion of ENERGY SAVING MEASURES in their area