Parks & open spaces
Own, provide, maintain and improve certain parks, recreation grounds, open spaces and other community facilities.
A guide for residents of Newport, Pembrokeshire
Your Town Council
What can we do? What can’t we do? Who is responsible?
Your Town Council is the tier of local government closest to you. We have our own elected councillors, legal powers, budget and Council Tax precept — but we are not a small version of the County Council.
🟢 What we can do
Our community — our powers. Subject to the law, our budget and properly made Council decisions, the Town Council can:
Community buildings
Own, lease, provide or support community buildings, halls and facilities.
Local amenities
Provide and maintain appropriate amenities such as benches, noticeboards, bus shelters and memorials.
Culture & events
Support appropriate cultural, recreational and community activities and events.
Community grants
Provide grants and financial support where there is a lawful power to do so.
Environment
Support appropriate environmental, biodiversity and local improvement projects.
Planning
Be consulted on planning applications and make representations to the planning authority.
Representation
Represent local residents and raise local concerns with other public authorities.
Partnerships
Work with the County Council, Welsh Government, community groups, businesses and other organisations.
Local projects
Develop and deliver appropriate projects which benefit the community.
Campaigning
Campaign for improvements to services, facilities and infrastructure, even where another organisation is responsible.
General Power of Competence
An eligible Council may have considerably wider freedom to undertake activities for the benefit of the community.
A Community/Town Council is not simply an advisory committee of the County Council.
It is a separate and independent tier of local government, with its own elected councillors, legal powers, responsibilities, budget and precept.
It is a separate and independent tier of local government, with its own elected councillors, legal powers, responsibilities, budget and precept.
🟠 What we can influence
We may not be responsible — but we can still help.
Many issues that matter enormously to residents are legally the responsibility of another public body. That does not mean the Town Council has to ignore them.
LISTEN→INVESTIGATE→REPRESENT→CAMPAIGN→LOBBY→PARTNER→SUPPORT
Issues we can raise, campaign about or work on with others
- Dangerous roads or pavements
- Potholes and road safety
- Speeding and traffic concerns
- Inadequate parking
- Litter and anti-social behaviour
- Public transport
- Local development
- Housing and environmental issues
- Local services and facilities
But we cannot pretend to have powers that the law gives to someone else.
We can gather local evidence, make representations, write to the responsible authority, participate in consultations, campaign for improvements and work with residents and other organisations.
We can gather local evidence, make representations, write to the responsible authority, participate in consultations, campaign for improvements and work with residents and other organisations.
🔴 What we cannot do
The limits of our powers. The Town Council is a public body and must act within the law.
We cannot simply spend public money
There must be a lawful power or duty allowing the expenditure.
We cannot take over another authority’s duties
We cannot simply assume responsibility for highways, social services, education or other functions belonging to another authority.
Individual councillors cannot make Council decisions
A councillor can raise an issue, investigate and represent residents, but the Council acts through properly made Council decisions.
We cannot determine planning applications
We can comment on planning applications and represent local views, but planning decisions are normally made by the relevant planning authority.
We cannot instruct other public bodies
We can ask, lobby, campaign and work with the County Council, Police, Welsh Government and others — but we do not have authority over them.
We cannot ignore governance rules
Public money must be managed properly, with appropriate budgeting, decision-making, procurement, audit, transparency and accountability.
🔵 Who is responsible?
A quick guide for residents. Responsibilities can vary in particular circumstances, so this table is a general guide rather than a legal statement.
| Your issue | Town / Community Council | County / County Borough Council | Other authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🪑 Town benches / local amenities | May provide & maintain | Sometimes | |
| 🌳 Community-owned land / facilities | May manage | Sometimes | |
| 🎪 Local community events | May support | May support | |
| 💷 Community grants | Yes, where lawful | Yes | |
| 📝 Planning applications | Consulted / comments | Planning authority | |
| 🕳️ Potholes | Report / campaign | Usually responsible | Welsh Government for some roads |
| 🛣️ Roads & pavements | Influence / report | Usually responsible | Welsh Government for trunk roads |
| 🚦 Traffic regulation | Campaign / comment | Usually responsible | Welsh Government for some roads |
| 🅿️ Parking enforcement | Raise concerns | Usually responsible | Police / other bodies in some circumstances |
| 🗑️ Household rubbish collection | Raise concerns | Responsible | |
| ♻️ Recycling collection | Raise concerns | Responsible | |
| 🏫 Schools & education | Campaign / support | Responsible locally | Welsh Government |
| 🏠 Social housing | Advocate | Usually responsible | Housing associations |
| 🧑⚕️ Social services | Raise concerns | Responsible locally | |
| 🚌 Public transport | Campaign | May have responsibilities | Welsh Government / operators |
| 🚓 Police & crime | Raise concerns / campaign | Work in partnership | Police / PCC |
| 🔥 Fire & rescue | Raise concerns | Work in partnership | Fire & Rescue Authority |
| 🏥 NHS services | Campaign / represent | Work in partnership | NHS Wales |
| 🏘️ Major development / strategic planning | Comment & represent | Usually responsible | Welsh Government in some cases |
🟢 We can do it — the Council may have the legal power and ability to act.
🟠 We can help / influence it — another organisation may be responsible, but we can represent residents, campaign, comment, lobby or work in partnership.
🔵 We are not the responsible authority — we may still be able to point you towards the organisation that is responsible and help raise the issue.
📣 Have an issue?
If something is affecting our town or community, tell the Town Council.
Even if another authority is responsible, we may be able to raise it, investigate it, represent you, contact the responsible authority, campaign for change, work with partners, support a local solution, or explain who is responsible.