The powers which have been vested in Parish Councils by Acts of Parliament
are summarised below. Each description is brief and is intended to be a general
indication only. Like all powers given to public bodies the powers of local
councils are defined in detail in legislation. These details may include a
requirement to obtain the consent of another body (for example the approval of
the County Council). Councils must also exercise their powers subject to the
provisions of the general law. Information on these details is held by the Clerk
of the Council.
The powers are listed alphabetically. Where a power is marked with an
asterisk the council may, in addition to exercising the power itself, help
another body to act by giving financial assistance. In any situation not
covered by one of the specific powers described below a council may spend money
on any purpose which in its opinion is of direct benefit to its area or to the
inhabitants. The total expenditure by the council on all the cases under this
general power must not in any financial year exceed £5.00 per local government
elector in the parish.
 | Allotments - Provision and maintenance of allotments for
cultivation |
| *Arts - Developing and improving knowledge of the arts and the
crafts which serve the arts |
| Baths - Provision of baths and wash-houses (which in modern terms
may include a launderette) |
| Borrowing - Parish Councils can borrow money for up to a maximum of
25 years with loan sanction consent. The Council must have loan sanction
consent before borrowing |
| *Cemeteries - Provision and maintenance of burial grounds,
cemeteries, crematoria, mortuaries and post-mortem rooms |
| Churchyards - Power to contribute to the costs of a churchyard in
use and a duty to maintain any closed churchyard where the duty has
been transferred by the Church of England |
| *Clocks - Provision and maintenance of public clocks, on churches
and elsewhere |
| Commons - Power to protect any finally registered common which has
no registered owner |
| *Crime Prevention - Installation of equipment and establishment of
schemes for the detection or prevention of crime; making grants to the
police authority for these purposes |
| *Entertainments - Provision of any form of public entertainment and
any premises for giving entertainments. (This includes maintaining bands and
orchestras and providing for dancing) |
| *Halls - Provision of buildings for public meetings and functions,
for indoor sports or physical recreation, or for the use of clubs or
societies having recreational, social or athletic objects |
| Legal Proceedings - Power to prosecute and defend any legal
proceedings in the interest of the inhabitants. Power to take part in any
public local inquiry |
| Lighting - Provision and maintenance of any footway lighting
which lights roads or pavements provided the columns are not above specified
heights |
| *Litter - Provision of litterbins in streets and support for
anti-litter campaigns |
| Open Spaces - Provision and maintenance of public open spaces,
pleasure grounds and public walks |
| Parking places - Provision and management of car and cycle parks |
| Parks - Provision and maintenance of public parks and appropriate
facilities |
| Planning -Local councils have a right to be notified of any
planning application affecting their area and to make comments which the
planning authority must take into account |
| *Playing fields - Provision and maintenance of land for any kind of
outdoor recreation, including boating pools |
| *Ponds - Power to deal with ponds, pools, or other places
containing filth or matter prejudicial to health |
| Post and telephone - Power to guarantee the postal or telephone
authorities against a loss on a facility |
| Public lavatories - Provision and maintenance of public lavatories |
| Rights of Way - Maintenance of public footpaths and bridleways |
| Roadside verges - Power to plant and maintain roadside verges |
| *Seats - Provision and maintenance of public seats on the highway |
| *Shelters - Provision and maintenance of shelters for general
public use and also particularly for bus passengers |
| Signs - Power to erect signs which warn of dangers or announce a
place name or indicate a bus stop |
| *Swimming - Provision of indoor or outdoor swimming pools or
bathing places |
| *Tourism - Provision of facilities for conferences and
encouragement of recreational and business tourism |
| Traffic calming - Contribution towards the cost of traffic calming
works provided by highway authorities |
| *Transport - Establishment of car-sharing and taxi fare concession
schemes; making grants for community bus services and bus services for the
elderly or disabled; investigation of public transport, road and traffic
provision and needs; provision of information about public transport
services |
| *Village Green - Powers to maintain the village or town green |
