Parish councils have powers to represent and support their local communities. They protect local environments and provide local services and facilities. However, Parish councils do not automatically have a power of general competence – they do not have an unlimited power to do whatever they choose. Councils can only act if they have been given a specific power to do so by statute. This means that councils are set up and controlled by Acts of Parliament.

The council must remain aware of their powers and are mindful that they must not act outside the law (Ultra Vires).

Local Councils in England were given a General Power of Competence in the Localism Act 2011, Sections 1-8. This means that Councils, once adopting the power, no longer need to ask whether they have a specific power to act. The Localism Act 2011 s1 (1) gives local authorities including town councils "the power to do anything that individuals generally may do as long as they do not break any other laws". It is a power of first resort.

Restrictions in law which apply to the use of the General Power of Competence include the duties on councils to act to prevent crime and disorder; to respect human rights; to consider biodiversity; and to protect personal data. Sometimes a council can do things that an individual can't do such as creating byelaws, raising a precept or issuing fixed penalty notices but it must do so using the specific original legislation. The General Power of Competence does not mean the Council can delegate decisions to individual councillors. This procedural matter remains enshrined in law.

Ibstock Parish Council adopted the General Power of Competence in December 2019. This power remains with the Town Council until the Annual Meeting following the next ordinary election (i.e. May 2023); it can then be readopted at that Annual Meeting if the Council is still eligible.

In order to be eligible for the General Power of Competence there are two criteria that must be fulfilled:

At the time when the General Power of Competence is adopted, at least two-thirds of the total seats on the council must be held by members who stood at the last ordinary election or subsequent by-election, i.e. council members who have been elected (even if unopposed - 5 members)

The Clerk must hold the Certificate in Local Council Administration or an equivalent qualification.