Local Authority Functions

Local Authority Functions

The following table broadly shows the frontline functions of the different types of principal local authorities in Dorset.

This does not include the functions of parish or town councils. In rural Dorset there is a two-tier system of Dorset County Council and various district councils. Bournemouth and Poole are two unitary authorities which provide all the services.

Purbeck District Council Services

Department: Central Services

• Monitoring Officer for the Council
• Legal advice and support to the Council and its committees, Councillors and officers
• Representation of the Council in legal proceedings in the Courts, Tribunals and at Public Inquiries

• Legal advice services internally and to town and parish councils
• Land charges
• Land holdings
• Acquisition and disposal of land and maintenance of the land terrier
• Byelaws

• Servicing council and other formal meetings
• Elections
• Providing procedural advice to town and parish councils
• Emergency planning and business continuity
• Working with partners to reduce crime and disorder including anti-social behaviour

• Contracts and procurement administration
• Estate management
• Asset management
• Caretaking services
• Management of the council's public car parks

• Reception and call handling
• Incoming and outgoing mail
• Cashier services and banking
• Banking arrangements

• IT support and development

Department: Chief Executive’s Office

• Policy advice to the Council
• Day to day leadership and co-ordination of key strategies
• Overseeing the Corporate Strategy, budget and effective use of resources
• Co-ordination of cross-cutting issues including developing joint working with other authorities

• Terms and Conditions of Service
• Employee Relations
• Employment Legislation
• HR Policies and Procedures
• Occupational Health
• Recruitment and Selection
• Corporate Training
• Internal Health and Safety

• Managing information requests
• Other information governance issues
• Consultation
• Performance monitoring and management
• Support for service planning
• Ad hoc corporate projects and tasks

• Internal and external communication
• Communication campaigns
• Emergency planning communications
• Dealing with the media
• Producing the council magazine and other publications
• Marketing and communications support to the Purbeck Sports Centre
• Graphic design

Dorset Waste Partnership

Department: Financial Services

• Budgets
• Final accounts.
• Treasury management.
• Financial information system.
• VAT

• Payroll.
• Accounts payable.
• Insurance.

• Invoicing the Council's customers.
• Follow up of unpaid debts and monitoring payment plans.

• Undertaking audits and reviews of Council services.
• Advising on control issues.
• Interpretation of Financial Regulations and Contractual Standing Orders.
• Undertaking “whistleblowing” and irregularity investigations and fraud prevention activities, including the National Fraud Initiative.
• Reviewing the internal control framework and reporting to the Audit and Governance Panel.

• Revenues (including the administration, billing and collection of Council Tax and National Non Domestic Rates).
• Benefits (including the administration, assessment and payment of Housing and Council Tax Benefit entitlements).

Department: Planning and Community Services

• Local Plan
• Neighbourhood and parish planning
• Community planning
• Sustainability
• Community engagement

• Technical advice to Development Management and Building Control
• Technical advice to Planning Policy
• Economic development
• Trees
• Flooding and drainage

• Natural Heritage
• Input into the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) management plan and projects
• Discover Purbeck Information Centre
• Tourism development

• Processing planning applications (except mineral extractions and waste disposal which are dealt with by Dorset County Council)
• Planning enforcement
• Building Regulations
• Street naming and numbering

Purbeck Sports Centre

• Provide a wide range of safe and affordable sport, leisure and health lifestyle opportunities for all sections of the community.
• Operate within the management agreement between Dorset County Council, the Purbeck School and Purbeck District Council.

Public Health and Housing Services

• Public health nuisances and pollution control (eg noise, smoke, odour, drainage and pest control advice and enforcement).
• Health and safety at work.
• Food safety (advice, enforcement and training courses).
• Infectious disease control.
• Private drinking water supplies, bathing and recreational water quality.
• High hedges.
• Licensing.

• Housing advice.
• Homelessness prevention.
• Homelessness investigations.
• Administration of the Housing Register.
• Choice Based Lettings.

• Working with registered providers and others to support the provision of new affordable housing.
• Undertaking parish based housing needs surveys.
• Policy and strategy development.

• Environmental issues eg air quality, contaminated land, radiation (including radon)
• Grounds maintenance, grass cutting of some verges, fly tipping and illegal dumping of waste.
• Dog warden service dealing with strays and promotion of responsible dog ownership.
• Non health licensing including premises (alcohol) licences, taxis and boat licences.
• Private sector housing includinginvestigation of disrepair, alleged illegal evictions and bringing empty homes back into use
• Promoting energy efficiency in the housing stock, providing support and advice to private landlords.
• Monitoring standards in houses in multiple occupation.
• Licensing residential park home sites.
• Disabled facilities grants and handy van service.