You may be aware that the law determines what a parish or town council like ours must do (its duties), what it can choose to do (its powers), as well as what and what it cannot do.
Parish/Town councils can only do what they have been given a specific power to do by statute. They do not have an unlimited power to do whatever they choose!
It is illegal for a parish/town council to spend money if it has no statutory power to act. A parish/town council can act ultra vires – beyond its legal powers to act – if, for example, it spends money without the statutory power.
Carnforth Town Council has produced a document setting out all of its power and duties and is available here