Can the Parish Council accept donations from residents towards the cost of purchase of a piece of land?

Question

A piece of land is coming up for auction in our village. The Parish Council has tried to buy this privately but offers have been rejected.

The guide price is double what the Parish Council has in its budget for the purchase. At the public consultation meeting a number of residents said that they would donate money towards the fund to try to buy the land at auction. The residents are concerned that some one unknown buying it would mean no input on what the land would be used for.

It is amenity land and the PC plans, following public consultation meetings, include allotments and a nature reserve.

Can the Parish Council accept donations from residents towards the cost of purchase?

Answer 1

Yes, the Parish Council would accept it as a public subscription.

The Parish would need to minute the purpose of the funds so they were protected (otherwise they are classed as normal funds and must be spent before the precept).

I will try dig out the specific guidelines later.

Comments

Local Government Act 1972 Section 139.

Answer 2

If they are not authorised to exercise the general power of competence, I think the answer would automatically be no.

Answer 3

The following 2019 Briefing Paper may shed a little more light on this matter:

Parish and town councils: recent issues