Parish Councils have an input into local planning matters, community safety, allotments, playing fields, community centres, seats, bus shelters and rights of way. We also work closely with the Highways Department to try and resolve any highway issues.
A summary of powers granted to Parish Councils can be found below. The table is a summary of the main functions of a Parish Council only; it is not intended to be a definitive list of all functions.
Like all powers given to public bodies the powers of local Councils are defined in detail in legislation and these details may include a requirement to obtain the consent of another body (for example the approval of the County Council to the provision of a car park). Local Councils must exercise their powers also subject to the provisions of the general law (for example planning permission is necessary for a sports pavilion).
Parish Councils have the power to precept (tax) their residents to support their operations and to carry out local projects. Although there is no limit to the amount that can be precepted, the money can only be raised for a limited number of purposes, defined in the 1894 Act and subsequent legislation.
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© 2010 Braughing Parish Council and Braughing Parochial Church Council
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Function |
Powers & Duties |
Statutory Provisions |
|
Allotments |
Powers to provide allotments. Duty to provide allotment gardens if demand unsatisfied |
Small Holdings and 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 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; Parish Councils Act 1957 s.1 |
|
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 |
|
Commons and common pastures |
Powers in relation to enclosure, as to regulation and management, and as to providing common pasture |
Enclosure Act 1845; Local Government Act 1894 s.8(4); Small Holdings 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 educational objectives |
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 s.19 |
|
Crime prevention |
Powers to spend money on various crime prevention measures |
Local Government and Rating Act 1997 s.31 |
|
Drainage |
Power to deal with ponds and ditches |
Public Health Act 1936 s.260 |
|
Education |
Right to appoint school governors |
Education (No.2) Act 1986 s.4 |
|
Entertainment and the arts |
Provision of entertainment and support of the arts |
Local Government Act 1972 s.145 |
|
Gifts |
Power to accept |
Local Government Act 1972 s.139 |
|
Highways |
Power to repair and maintain public footpaths and bridleways Power to light roads and public places Power to provide parking places for vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles Power to enter into agreement as to dedication and widening Power to provide roadside seats and shelters, and omnibus 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 highways authority as to protection of rights of way and roadside wastes Power to provide traffic signs and other notices Power to plant trees etc. and to maintain roadside verges |
Highways Act 1980 ss.43 and 50 Parish Councils Act 1957 s.3; Highways Act 1980 s.301; Local Government Act 1972 Sch.14 para 27 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ss.57 and 63 Highways Act 1980 ss.30 and 72 Parish Councils Act 1957 s.1 Highways Act 1980 ss.47 and 116 Highways Act 1980 s.130 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 s.72 Highways Act 1980 s.96; Countryside Act 1968 |
|
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 and 127 Local Government Act 1972 s.139 |
|
Litter |
Provision of receptacles |
Litter Act 1983 ss.5 and 6 |
|
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 |
|
Nuisances |
Power to deal with offensive ditches |
Public Health Act 1936 s.260 |
|
Open spaces |
Power to acquire land and maintain |
Public Health Act 1875 s.164; Open Spaces Act 1906 ss.9 and 10 |
|
Parish property and documents |
Powers to direct as to their custody |
Local Government Act 1972 s.226 |
|
Public buildings and village hall |
Power to provide buildings for offices and for public meetings and assemblies |
Local Government Act 1972 s.133 |
|
Public conveniences |
Power to provide |
Public Health Act 1936 s.87 |
|
Recreation |
Power to acquire land for or to provide recreation grounds, 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 |
Public Health Act 1875 s.164; Local Government Act 1972 Sch.14 para 27; 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 Sch.1 para 8 |
|
Tourism |
Power to contribute to organisations encouraging |
Local Government Act 1972 s.144 |
|
Traffic calming |
Powers to contribute financially to traffic calming schemes |
Local Government and Rating Act 1997 s.30 |
|
Transport |
Powers to spend money on community transport schemes |
Local Government and Rating Act 1997 ss.26-29 |
|
War memorials |
Power to maintain, repair, protect and adapt 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 there from |
Public Health Act 1936 s.125 |