COUNCIL ELIGIBLE TO USE NEW POWERS

Stone Parish Council has become the first in Dartford to declare eligibility to use the Power of Well-Being which allows the council to undertake any activity that will promote the social, economic, or environmental well-being of the parish.

All parish and town councils operate using powers granted through the Local Government Act and other relevant acts of Parliament, but these are generally related to recreation provision and some transport-related activities.

The Power of Well-Being frees councils from being bound by these powers and allows it to undertake any activity they consider will promote the well-being of the area.

The Government’s purpose in extending the well-being power to eligible councils is to give communities greater flexibility to act on priorities and to facilitate joint working between local councils and their partners in the private and public sector. This will provide opportunities for local councils to improve the quality of life and health of their communities. It will be down to individual council’s creativeness to determine how they utilise the power for local benefit.

Examples of use of the power have seen other councils establish employment agencies, fund additional Police Community Support Officers and even set up a renewable utilities company.

The council had to meet prescribed conditions which include having a qualified Clerk, eighty percent of councillors trained in the use of the power and a published statement of intent regarding community engagement.

The Community Engagement Statement of Intent describes how the council interacts and engages with residents regarding local issues and priorities.