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Decision on local government reorganisation

The Government has confirmed that Surrey will move to a two-unitary council model following its review of local government arrangements. Read our full story and future steps.

Powers and Duties of Parish Councils

The role played by parish councils varies considerably. Smaller parish councils have only limited resources and generally play a minor role, while some larger parish councils have a role like that of a small district council. Parish councils receive funding by levying a "precept" on the council tax paid by the residents of the parish.

The list below is intended as a summary of the main functions of parish councils. It is not intended to be a definitive list of such functions. Where a function is marked with an asterisk a parish council also has the power to give financial assistance to another person or body performing the same function.

FunctionsPowers and duties
Allotments

Powers to provide allotments

Duty to provide allotment gardens if demand unsatisfied

Bus Shelters and roadside seatsPower to provide and maintain
Bye LawsPower to make byelaws for public walks and pleasure grounds
Clocks*Power to provide public clocks
Closed ChurchyardsPowers (and sometimes duty) as to maintain
Commons Land and Common PasturesPowers in relation to enclosure as to regulation and management and as to providing common pasture
Community Centres and Village Halls

Power to provide and equip premises for use of clubs having athletic, social or educational objectives

Power to provide buildings for offices and for public meetings and assemblies

Conference facilities*Power to provide and encourage the use of facilities
Crime Prevention*Powers to spend money on various crime prevention measures
DrainagePower to deal with ponds/ditches
EducationRight to appoint governors of primary schools
Entertainment and the Arts*Provision of entertainment and support of the arts
EnvironmentPower to act for the benefit of the community by tackling and promoting awareness of environmental issues
FlagpolesPower to erect flagpoles in highways
Highways
  • Power to repair and maintain footpaths and bridle ways
  • Power to provide lighting of roads and public places
  • Power to provide parking places for vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles
  • Power to enter into an agreement as to dedication and widening
  • Power to provide traffic signs and other notices
  • Power to plant trees, etc., and to maintain roadside verges
  • Power to prosecute for unlawful ploughing of a footpath or bridle way
  • Power to contribute financially to traffic calming schemes
InvestmentsPower to participate in schemes of collective investment
Land
  • Power to acquire land by agreement or compulsory purchase,
  • Power to appropriate land
  • Power to dispose of land
  • Power to accept gifts of land
  • Power to obtain particulars of persons interested in land
Litter binsPower to provide litter bins including receptacles for dog faeces
LotteriesPower to promote lotteries
Monuments and MemorialsPower to agree to maintain monuments and memorials
Mortuaries and post-mortem roomsPowers to provide mortuaries and post-mortem rooms
Nature ReservesPower to designate statutory to the nature reserves and marine nature reserves - English Nature can designate sites of specific scientific interest
NuisancesPower to deal with offensive ditches, ponds and gutters
Open Spaces, Burial Grounds, Cemeteries and crematoria*Power to acquire, maintain or contribute towards expenses
Parish Property and Records
  • Powers to direct as to their custody
  • Power to collect, exhibit and purchase local records
Parks and pleasure groundsPower to hire pleasure boats in parks and pleasure grounds
Parochial charities
  • Power to appoint trustees of parochial charities
  • Duty to receive accounts of parochial charities
PlanningRight to be notified of and power to respond to planning applications
Postal and telecommunications facilitiesPower to pay the Post Office, British Telecommunications or any other public telecommunications operator any loss sustained in providing post or telegraph office or telecommunications facilities
Public ConveniencesPower to provide public conveniences
Raising of FinancesPower to raise money through the parish precept
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
Swimming pools, bathing places, baths and washhousesPower to provide
Tourism*Power to contribute to the encouragement of tourism
Town StatusPower to adopt town status
Transport*

Power to (a) establish car sharing schemes (b) make grants for bus services, (c) provide taxi-fare concessions; (d) investigate public transport, road use and needs; (e) provide information about public transport services

Community Transport Schemes

Village greensPower to maintain, to make bylaws for and to prosecute for interference with village greens
Water SupplyPower to utilise well, spring or stream and to provide facilities for obtaining water there from.