Find your local Parish Council


What is a Parish Council?

A Parish Councils is a civil local authority and it the lowest tier of government. Only England has Parish Councils are part of their civic local authority structure.

Parish Councils are elected corporate bodies that have powers to implement variable tax raises and are responsible for an area known as a civic parish.

There are approximately 16 million people served by a parish council in England.

The names of Parish Councils can vary. Whilst most commonly they are called a Parish Council their names often include Town Council, Village Council, Community Council or Neighbourhood Council. If the parish has a city status, the parish has the option to be named City Council.

The role and responsibilities are the same irrespective of the name and the size of the area covered by the parish council.

Civil parish councils were formed in England under the reforming Local Government Act 1894 to take over local oversight of civic duties in rural towns and villages from the vestry committee.

What are Parish Councils responsible for?

FunctionPowers & DutiesStatutory Provisions
Access landPower to enforce byelaws made by another authorityCountryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, s. 17
AllotmentsDuty to provide allotments. Power to improve and adapt land for allotments, and to let grazing rightsSmall Holdings & Allotments Act 1908, ss. 23, 26, and 42
Baths and washhousesPowers relating to provision of public baths, washhouses and bathing hutsPublic Health Act 1936, ss. 221 - 223 and 225 - 227
Burial grounds, cemeteries and crematoriaPower 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 sheltersPower to provide and maintain sheltersLocal Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953, s. 4
Bye-lawsPower 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 Conveniences
Public Health Act 1875, s. 164
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s.57(7)
Public Health Act 1936, s.223
Open Spaces Act 1906, ss.15 and 12
Public Health Act 1936, s.198
Public Health Act 1936, s. 87
ClocksPower to provide public clocksParish Councils Act 1957, s.2
Closed churchyardsPowers as to maintenanceCommons Act 1899, s.5
CommonsPower for parish council to contribute to expense relating to scheme for the regulation and management of a common.Commons Act 1899, s.5
Common pasturesPowers in relation to providing common pastureSmallholdings and Allotments Act 1908, s.34
Conference facilitiesPower to provide and encourage the use of facilitiesLocal Government Act 1972, s.144
Community centresPower to provide and equip buildings for use of clubs having athletic, social or recreational objectivesLocal Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 s.19
Crime preventionPowers to install and maintain equipment and establish and maintain a scheme for detection or prevention of crimeLocal Government and Rating Act 1997, s.31
DrainagePower to deal with ponds and ditchesPublic Health Act 1936, s.260
Entertainment and the artsProvision of entertainment and support of the artsLocal Government Act 1972, s.145
Financial assistanceDuty to require informationLocal Government Act 1972, s.137A
General powersPower to incur expenditure for certain purposesLocal Government Act 1972, s.137
GiftsPower to acceptLocal Government Act 1972, s.139
HighwaysPower to maintain footpaths and bridleways
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
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
InvestmentsPower to participate in schemes of collective investmentTrustee Investments Act 1961, s.11
LandPower 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
LitterProvision of receptaclesLitter Act 1983, ss.5,6
LotteriesPowers to promoteLotteries and Amusements Act 1976, s.7
Mortuaries and post mortem roomsPowers to provide mortuaries and post mortem roomsPublic Health Act 1936, s.198
Open spacesPower to acquire land and maintainPublic Health Act 1875, s.164
Open Spaces Act 1906, ss.9 and 10
Parish documentsPowers to direct as to their custodyLocal Government Act 1972, s.226
Public buildings and village hallPower to provide buildings for public meetings and assembliesLocal Government Act 1972, s.133
Public conveniencesPowers relating to provision of public conveniencesPublic Health Act 1936, s.87
RecreationPower to acquire land for or to provide 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
(see Local Government Act 1972,
Sched.14 para.27)
Public Health Act 1875, s.164
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 planningRight to be notified of planning applicationsTown and Country Planning Act 1990, Sched.1, para.8
TourismPower to encourage visitors and provide conference and other facilitiesLocal Government Act 1972, s.144
Traffic calmingPowers to contribute financially to traffic calming schemesHighways Act 1980, s.274A
TransportPowers 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 memorialsPower to maintain, repair, protect and alter war memorialsWar Memorials (Local Authorities' Powers) Act 1923, s.1; as extended by Local Government Act 1948, s.133
Water supplyPower to utilise well, spring or stream and to provide facilities for obtaining water from themPublic Health Act 1936, s.125