b'Chapter 11 Highway and Transport Functions Highway functions 11.1 The Highways Act 1980 contains the majority of income-generating powers in respect of highways. Some of these powers (like environmental protection powers) merely enable the authority to recover costs in default of action taken by, for example, an owner or occupier of premises. Whilst these activities are unlikely to result in a surplus of income, at least the provisions give the authority the opportunity to make these activities self-financing. Some of the most widely drafted powers contained in the Highways Act 1980 (the 1980 Act) are to be found in Part VIIA (provision of amenities on certain highways). Certain councils are given powers to carry out works and place objects or structures on, in or over specified highways for the purposes of giving effect to an Order under section 249(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for the purpose of enhancing the amenity of the highway and its immediate surroundings, or of providing a service for the benefit of the public or a section of the public. Such council has power to maintain those works or objects. These powers can only be exercised in respect of walkways with the consent of occupiers of the building (and certain other persons) in which the walkway subsists. Further restrictions are contained in section 115B(5) and (6) of the 1980 Act in respect of objects or structures placed on, in or over footpaths, bridleways and certain footways, or an object or structure placed for a purpose which will result in the production of income or for the purposes of providing a centre for advice or information. In these cases the consent of interested frontages must be obtained for the placing of the object and to the purpose for which it is to be placed. Similarly, under section 115B(7) the consent of interested frontages is also required in respect of objects similarly placed in, on or over any highway to which Part VII of the Act applies for the purposes of production of income or providing a centre for advice or information and where the council proposes to grant a permission under section 115E to some person to use that object or structure. Specific powers in this Part of the Act include the improvement of the amenity of the highway by providing lawns, trees, shrubs or flowers, the provision of recreational and refreshment facilities subject to the consent of interested frontagers (section 115C), and the granting of permissions to persons to carry out works or place objects in, on or over the highway or to use those objects. Provisions are made for the giving of notices by councils who wish to exercise their powers, for the attaining of consents of other authorities and for the imposition of conditions on permissions granted under section 115E. Section 115C is particularly interesting in that it gives councils, subject to certain conditions, power to provide, maintain and operate facilities for recreation or refreshment or both on a highway to which the Act applies. Whilst the section does not expressly state that the council can charge for such facilities, in the words of Lord Lowry in the Richmond case: 119'