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The General Power of Competence
Information about the general power of competence
When certain criteria are met Town, Parish and Community councils are eligible to use the General Power of Competence. Rockland St Mary with Hellington Parish Council resolved from 2nd July 2025 (minute 25.95), until the next relevant Annual Meeting of the Council, that having met the conditions of eligibility as defined in the Localism Act 2011 and SI 965 The Parish Councils (General Power of Competence)(Prescribed Conditions) Order 2012, to adopt the General Power of Competence which means that Councils, once adopting the power, no longer need to ask whether they have a specific power to act to support and act for our community.
Although the Government has given scant guidance on the operation of the power, activities covered by the legislation include:
- Running a community shop or post office
- Lend or invest money
- Establish a company or co-operative society to trade and engage in commercial activity
- Establish a company to provide services such as local transport
- Providing grants to individuals
The power is not restricted to use within the parish. An eligible town/parish council can use it anywhere.
The THREE conditions for eligibility are as follows:
- RESOLUTION: The Council must resolve at a meeting that it meets the criteria for eligibility relating to the electoral mandate and relevant training of the clerk
- ELECTORAL MANDATE: at the time the resolution is passed, at least two thirds of the council must hold office as a result of being declared elected (i.e. not co-opted)
- QUALIFIED CLERK: At the time that the resolution is passed, the Clerk must hold a recognised professional qualification e.g. Certificate in Local Council Administration, Certificate of Higher Education in Local Policy and pass the 2012 CiLCA module relating to the general power of competence
ROCKLAND ST MARY WITH HELLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL SATISFIES CONDITION THREE:
- The Clerk holds the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA)
