Kent Legal Services co-publishes guide to legal powers and duties

Kent Legal Services and esd-toolkit have published guidance on the legal powers and duties of local and fire authorities in England and Wales.

The guidance sets out what services a council must deliver and what it has the power to deliver if it chooses.

The guidance on powers and duties links the Local Government Services List with the legislation.gov.uk site.

More 2,200 pieces of legislation are referenced dating from the Town Improvement Clauses Act of 1847 to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act of 2013.  

The county council said: “The research represented a massive job for Kent’s legal team but one which shone a light on some of the darker corners of the legal powers and duties that still affect local authorities.

“We are delighted that the work has resulted in this unique resource, which will relieve other councils of similar effort and improve the governance of the local government sector, as well as raise awareness of new possibilities.”
 
A toolkit allowing officers to search and filter powers and duties is available to councils which subscribe to the LG Inform Plus programme.