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Section 1: Local authority's general power of competence

Localism Act 2011 · 2011 c. 20View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 1: Local Government — CHAPTER 1: General powers of authorities

A local authority has power to do anything that individuals generally may do.

Subsection (1) applies to things that an individual may do even though they are in nature, extent or otherwise—

unlike anything the authority may do apart from subsection (1), or
unlike anything that other public bodies may do.

In this section "individual" means an individual with full capacity.

Where subsection (1) confers power on the authority to do something, it confers power (subject to sections 2 to 4) to do it in any way whatever, including—

power to do it anywhere in the United Kingdom or elsewhere,
power to do it for a commercial purpose or otherwise for a charge, or without charge, and
power to do it for, or otherwise than for, the benefit of the authority, its area or persons resident or present in its area.

The generality of the power conferred by subsection (1) ("the general power") is not limited by the existence of any other power of the authority which (to any extent) overlaps the general power.

Any such other power is not limited by the existence of the general power (but see section 5(2)).

Schedule 1 (consequential amendments) has effect.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.