Duties of local government in the United Kingdom

The duties of local government in the United Kingdom concern the functions, powers and obligations of local government in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. While the Local Government Act 1972 and the Localism Act 2011 set out general powers to do anything necessary to fulfill their duties, and to act with full capacity (such as a limited company can), there is no codified list of powers set out in a statute. Instead, there are around 220 duties found in various pieces of legislation falling under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and 1120 pieces of legislation falling under other departments.See DCLG duties and other duties. Further local devolution is anticipated following the 2024 King's Speech under an "English Devolution Bill"

List of powers Department of Communities administered duties In 2011, there were 220 legislative duties of local authorities for which the Department of Communities is responsible.

Accountability Legislation Year Introduced Title of Duty FunctionLocal Government Act Section 112 1972Appoint officers.Gives Local Authorities the ability to appoint the staff that it needs.Local Government Act Section 151 1972Designate a chief finance officer and Make arrangements for the proper administration of their financial affairs and secure that one of their officers has responsibility for the administration of those affairs.Local Authorities must have a Chief Finance Officer.Local Government Act1972Allow public to access certain meetings and documents.Required to ensure transparency.Local Government Act Section 148 1972Keep a fund to be known as the county fund.Foundation of the local government finance system.Local Government Act Section 1681972Make a financial return to the Secretary of State for each year ending on 31st March, or such other day as the Secretary of State may direct.Management of financial system and macro economic management.Local Government Act Section 2301972Send the Secretary of State such reports and returns, and give him such information with respect to their functions, as he may require or as may be required by either House of Parliament.Provides assurances that may be required to assure Parliament of proper management of Local Government.Local Government Act Section 99 and Schedule 12 1972Comply with rules on meetings and proceedings in Schedule 12 to the LGA Local Government Act e.g. hold an annual meeting, record the names of members present at a meeting, draw up minutes of proceedings of a meeting.Core to ensuring proper democratic accountability.Local Government Act1974Take certain steps in response to reports from the Local Government Ombudsman.Core accountability mechanism.Local Government Act1986Have regard to a code of practice on publicity.To comply with the code of practice on publicity.LGA 1972 and the Parish and Community Meetings Rules1987Comply with parish poll rules where a poll is demanded at a parish meeting.Core accountability mechanism for parish councils for voters in parishes.Local Government and Housing Act1989Designate officers as head of paid service and monitoring officer.Leader to designate head of paid service and monitoring officer to - ensure propriety and regularity.Local Government and Housing Act1989Adopt standing orders.Part of the propriety regime.Local Government and Housing Act1989Allocate appointments according to voting strength of political groups.Ensures representation of minority parties on committees by requiring politically mixed committees where a democratic mandate has created that environment.Local Government and Housing Act1989Adopt a scheme for payment of allowances to councillors.Enables councillors to be paid for their work as councillors and includes the duty to have an independent panel to consider/agree allowances.Local Government Act Section 3 1999Best value duty.Requires authorities to secure continuous improvement in exercising functions, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency & effectiveness.Local Government Act Section 22A 2000Provide information to an overview and scrutiny committee of another authority.Information to Overview and Scrutiny Committee in another authority if required.Local Government Act Section 21B2000Respond to its own overview and scrutiny committeeA Local Authority must respond to its Overview and Scrutiny Committee - part of its executive arrangementsLocal Government Act2000Prepare a Sustainable Community Strategy and associated duty to consult.The duty to prepare a Sustainable Community Strategy is to ensure Local Authorities set an overall strategic direction and long term vision for the economic, social and environmental well-being of a local area in a way that contributes to sustainable development in the United Kingdom. The Local Authority is required to consult and seek participation of each partner authority in preparation or modification of their Sustainable Community Strategy.Local Government Act  Section 21ZA 2000Upper tier & unitary authorities to appoint a scrutiny officer.An officer must be appointed with responsibility for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.Local Government Act2000Adopt a code of conduct for members and co-opted members.Local Government Act Section 21(1) and Local Authorities (Executive and Alternative Arrangements) (Modification of Enactments and Other Provisions) (England) Order 20012001Appoint one or more overview and scrutiny committees.Creation of executive arrangements.Local Government Act 1999 Section 3A  inserted by section 138 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act2007Involve local representatives.The duty seeks to ensure people have greater opportunities to have their say. It encourages authorities and their partners to embed a culture of engagement and empowerment and change into their daily activities, and consider, as a matter of course, the possibilities for provision of information to, consultation with and involvement of representatives of local persons across all authority functions.Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act Section 106 2007Prepare a draft Local Area Agreement (LAA) when directed to do so by the Secretary of State .To ensure all top tier Local Authorities prepare a Local Area Agreement when directed to do so by the Secretary of State.Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act Section 106 (2-3) 2007Duty to consult and cooperate.To ensure there is a joined-up, cross-sector approach to agreeing local priorities.Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act Section 108 2007Have regard to Local Area Agreement targets.Yes - cost, time and staffing resource burden on planning for delivery against particular targets Local Area Agreements.Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act Section 113 2007Publish information about Local Area Agreements when targets are designated by the Secretary of State.Yes - cost, time and staffing resource burden on preparing, publishing and updating information about particular targets Local Area Agreements.Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act Section 83 2007Undertake a community governance review (CGR) Key element of local democracy - requires district councils to act where local people want to create a parish council.Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act Section 84 2007Respond to a petition for a community governance review (where a community governance review is already being undertaken).Key element of local democracy - requires district councils to act where local people want to create a parish council.Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act Section 130 2009Where a multi area agreement has effect, each local authority for the area covered by the agreement and each partner authority for that area must in exercising the functions have regard to every improvement target specified in the agreement that relates to it.Multi area agreements whereby partners have a statutory duty to have regard to specific targets relating to their activities.Local Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees) (England) Regulations2009County council or executive of such a council to respond to the overview and scrutiny committee of an associated district council.Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act Section 692009Prepare assessments of the economic conditions of their areas (Local Economic Assessments).Strong local economic evidence bases.Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act2009Promote democracy (not yet commenced).Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act2009Have a petitions scheme (as from 15 June 2010).To standardise petitions procedures for local authorities.