The general power of competence denotes the power to do “anything that individuals generally may do”. It is available to local authorities and some other types of body in England, local authorities in Wales, and local authorities in Northern Ireland.
This note provides an explanation of the general power of competence, the related ‘functional power of competence’, and the well-being power. It sets out some of the background to the introduction of the power, and notes some of the impacts of the use of the power.