| AdminHistory | Sheffield City Council was incorporated in 1843. The first meeting of the newly formed Council took place in November 1843. From 1864, the Corporation issued printed copies of the Council Proceedings and of the Committee minutes. Note some of the committees listed in these volumes date from when the Council was established in 1843. For minutes prior to the start of this (CA-MIN) series see CA-COU. It appears that no bound volumes of duplicate (i.e. unsigned) minutes were made after 1985. Post-1985 minutes of the Council, together with the Council summons and minutes of committees are available at CA-COU.
In 1973 a Sheffield Metropolitan District Council was established (following the Local Government Act of 1973). The tier above this new District Council was the South Yorkshire County Council. The first volume for district council minutes overlap with the city council minutes (see CA-MIN/111(b).
From 1882-1883 the minutes of the Council and committee meetings are indexed, often in considerable detail. By the early 1970s the index to the full Council meetings was much simplified, with far more detail being retained in the indexes to the individual committees. In particular, significant issues appear to have been considered by the Policy Committee.
For many years from the 1920s onwards details of council employees (names and salaries) are recorded as well as total numbers of staff per department.
The first committees were Watch, Finance and General Purposes. Subsidiary committees were also established - Weights and Measures, Sales of Gas Act, Hackney Coach, Smoke Bye-laws and Bridges and Streets. The Free Libraries and Museums Committee was established in 1853 under the Public Libraries Act of 1850.
When, in 1864, the Council adopted powers of the Local Government Act of 1858, committee organisation was somewhat transformed. Two new committees - Highways and Sewerage Committee, and the Improvement Committee, were set up under these powers and those of the Public Health Act of 1848 and the general Highway Act of 1864. Moreover the duties of some committees were transferred. Weights and Measures and the Sale of Gas Act were passed to the General Purposes Committee. The regulation of Hackney Coaches became the province of the Watch Committee. Smoke bye-laws were enforced by the Health Committees and Bridges and Streets by the new Improvement Committee.
The General Purposes Committee thus assumed a wide area of competence: Council accommodation, Weights and Measures (24 & 25 Victoria, c. 75); Regulation of sales of gas; The licensing of premises to store petroleum (25 & 26 Victoria; from 1871, under 34 & 35 Victoria, c. 105, detailed lists of licences were entered. The General Purposes Committee was also involved in the Sheffield Market Act 1847; the complaint against of the gas fitters against Sheffield United Gas Co. in 1851; and the regulation of the turnpike roads in 1860. Its areas of responsibility, however, were diminished from 1874. From that date until 1919, it functioned as the General Purposes and Parks Committee, which became in 1919 the Parks and Burial Grounds Committee. In 1919, the General Purposes Committee was absorbed into the Parliamentary Committee.
The Highway Committee includes reference to the approval by the New Works and Plan sub-committee of applications to build property (gives number of houses/factories, privies etc and the location).
The Health Committee includes reference to unfit food; also includes names of those summoned for possessing unfit food, causing nuisances etc. Reports of the Sanitary Inspector refer to emptying of privies, removal of waste, meat fish and vegetable markets etc. Committee reports include statistics on births and deaths and cases of smallpox, measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, whooping cough, typhus and typhoid, diarrhoea, Zymotic diseases, death by violence, cancer or childbirth, phthisis. The Health Committee dealt with housing matters until 1946.
The Watch Committee includes reference to police officers being appointed and discharged.
A reference to a particular minute or motion refers to the full Council meeting. Further detail is likely to be found in individual service committees.
The appointment of Consuls for many countries (for instance Latvia, Uruguay etc) are recorded in the Council minutes at regular intervals.
Committees included in this series are:
Administration of Public Finance Scheme Special Committee (from c. 1943)
Afforestation Special Committee (from c. 1906 and again from c. 1920)
Air Raid Precautions (Originally a sub-committee of the Parliamentary and General Purposes Committee, from Oct 1938 it was standing committee)
Allotments Special Committee (from c. 1890)
Amalgamation of Poor Law Unions Special Committee (from c. 1915)
Angel Street Land Special Committee (from c. 1900)
Angel Street to Bow Street Special Committee (from c. 1891)
Appointment of City Architect Special Committee (from c. 1925)
Artisans' Dwellings Special Committee (from c. 1889)
Borough Hospital Committee (from c. 1882); from c. 1892 City Hospital Committee.
Borough Jubilee Special Committee (from c. 1892)
Botanical Gardens Special Committee (from c. 1890)
Bridges and Street Committee (from c. 1864)
Building Bye-laws Joint Special Committee (from c. 1888)
Building Bye-laws Special Committee (from c. 1913)
Byelaws as to New Streets and Buildings Special Committee (from c. 1910)
Capital Burgesses Trust Special Committee (from c. 1905)
Capital Expenditure Special Committee (from c. 1904)
Cattle Plague Committee (1860s)
Central Motor Garage Special Committee (from c. 1923)
Central Purchasing Special Committee (from c. 1931)
Children's Committee (from c. 1947)
City Engineers Department Special Committee (from c. 1913)
City Extensions Special Committee (from c. 1918)
City Hall Committee (from c. 1929)
City Promotion Committee (from c. 1973)
City Surveyor's Department Special Committee (from c. 1893)
Civic Restaurants (from c. 1946)
Civil Defence Committee (from c. 1949)
Classification of Museums Special Committee (from c. 1914)
Cleansing and Baths Committee (from c. 1955)
Clothing for Corporation Employees Special Committee (from c. 1901)
Coal Supply Special Committee (from c. 1916)
Committee of Enquiry re Alderman Charles Hobson Special Committee (from c. 1901) (allegations re sale of land)
Committee of Enquiry re payments to members Special Committee (from c. 1902)
Committee of Inquiry Special Committee (from c. 1900) [to investigate fraud committed by William George Collingwood, an assistant in the Town Clerk's Department].
Composition of Committees Special Committee (from c. 1901)
Control of Sewers Special Committee (from c. 1887)
Corporate Estates (from c. 1973)
Council Meetings Special Committee (from c. 1890)
Cultivation of Lands Special Committee (from c. 1916)
Development (from c. 1916)
Distress [relating to unemployment] Special Committee (from c. 1905)
Education (from c. 1902)
Education (Special) Committee (from c. 1902)
Education Committee's Proceedings Special Committee (from c. 1920)
Electric Light Undertaking Special Committee (from c. 1911)
Electric Lighting, later Electric Supply (from c. 1882)
Electric Supply Special Committee (from c. 1905)
Electric Supply Undertaking Special Committee (from c. 1912)
Electricity (Supply) Act Special Committee (from c. 1920)
Electricity Charges Special Committee (from c. 1919)
Emergency Committee for Civil Defence (from 1939)
Engineering Services Committee (from c. 1969)
Enlargement of Borough Special Committee (from c. 1887)
Environmental Planning (from c. 1973)
Establishment (from c. 1906)
Estates (from c. 1906)
Estimates Special Committee (from c. 1887)
Expenses with the Lord Mayoralty Special Committee (from c. 1912)
Fair Wages Clause Special Committee (from c. 1906)
Family and Community Services (from c. 1973)
Finance Committee (from c. 1864)
Fire Brigade Committee (from c. 1949)
Food Control Special Committee (from c. 1916)
Formation of National Reserve Special Committee (from c. 1911)
Gas Testing Special Committee (from c. 1891)
General Purposes Committee (from c. 1864)
Grading of Clerks Special Committee (from c. 1902)
Grading of Duties and Salaries of Official Staff Special Committee (from c. 1923)
Grading of salaried officials and clerks Special Committee (from c. 1904)
Grading of Salaries Special Committee (from c. 1921)
Grammar School and Birley's Charity Special Committee (from c. 1887)
Health Committee (from c. 1864)
High Hazels Park Special Committee (from c. 1889)
High Street Special Committee (from c. 1891)
High Wincobank Special Committee (from c. 1908)
Highway and Sewerage (from c. 1891)
Highway Committee (from c. 1864)
Highways and Sewerage and Rivers Special Committee (from c. 1890)
Hillsborough Park Special Committee (from c. 1889)
Hired Transport and Central Haulage Department Special Committee (from c. 1930)
Honorary Freedom Special Committee (from c. 1898)
Hospitals (from c. 1919)
Housing (from c. 1946)
Housing Administration Special Committee (from c. 1937)
Housing Development Committee (from c. 1960)
Housing Management Committee (from c. 1960)
Improved Access to Victoria Station Special Committee (from c. 1911)
Improvement Committee (from c. 1864)
Improvement of River Don Special Committee (from c. 1910)
(Industrial) Development Committee (from c. 1916)
Industrial Development and City Promotion Committee (from c. 1980)
Infantile Mortality Special Committee (from c. 1906)
Joint Committee re Sick Fund (from c. 1906)
Joint Conference of Improvement and Markets Committee as to new street (from c. 1908)
King Edward VII Hospital (from c. 1914)
Langsett Valley Committee (from c. 1896)
Library (Free Public Library) Committee (from c. 1864)
Licensing Accommodation Special Committee (from c. 1935)
Lighting and Licensing (from c. 1965)
Lindrick Common Special Committee (from c. 1889)
Local Fuel and Lighting Special Committee (from c. 1917)
Local Government Act Committee (from c. 1864)
Local Government Bill Joint Special Committee (from c. 1887)
Lord Mayor's Advisory (listed from 1918)
Lord Mayoralty Special Committee (from c. 1910)
Magistrates Clerk Special Committee (from c. 1906)
Mappin Bequest / Art Gallery Special Committee (from c. 1883)
Markets (from c. 1902)
Maternity and Child Welfare (from 1918)
Mental Defectives, Committee for the Care of (from c. 1913, from c. 1916 Mental Deficiency Act Committee)
Milk Supply Special Committee (from c. 1923)
Milk Supply, National Restaurants and Kitchens Special Committee (from c. 1918)
Municipal Art Exhibition Special Committee (from c. 1912)
National Registration Special Committee (from c. 1914)
National Reserve Special Committee (from c. 1912)
Nether Hallam Polling Districts Special Committee (from c. 1888)
New Street Special Committee (from c. 1910)
New Town Hall Committee (from c. 1864)
Nominee Gas Directors' Special Committee (from c. 1890)
Nominee Gas Directors' Report Special Committee (from c. 1906)
Office Accommodation in Town Hall Special Committee (from c. 1930)
(Officers') Salaries and Grading Scheme Special Committee (from c. 1938)
Old Age Pensions (c. 1910)
Old Age Pensions Committee (from c. 1908)
Old Workmen [re employees aged over 60] Special Committee (from c. 1910)
Parks and Burial Grounds (Parks was formerly includes in the General Purposes and Parks Committee) (from c. 1919)
Parliamentary Powers (from c. 1882)
Parliamentary Powers Special Committee (from c. 1888)
Philharmonic Committee (from c. 1960)
Policy (from c. 1966)
Postal Committee (from c. 1886)
Postal Special Committee (from c. 1887)
Private Street Works Special Committee (from c. 1904)
Profiteering Act Special Committee (from c. 1918)
Property Committee (from c. 1967)
Proposed Chamber of Arbitration Special Committee (from c. 1892)
Proposed Industrial Exhibition Special Committee (from c. 1910)
Public Assistance Committee (from c. 1930, later the Social Welfare Committee (from c. 1940)
Public Hall Special Committee (from c. 1917)
Public Works (Buildings) (from c. 1946)
Quarter Sessions Committee (from c. 1864)
Queen's Jubilee (from c. 1886)
Rating (from c. 1926)
Reading of Minutes Committee (from c. 1864)
Re-arrangements of Markets Special Committee (from c. 1923)
Recreation (from c. 1967)
Recreation and Amenities (in addition to Recreation) from c. 1980)
Reduction in Expenditure Special Committee (from c. 1920)
Refuse Destructors Special Committee (from c. 1906)
Rents and Rates of Corporation Houses Special Committee (from c. 1926)
Reorganisation of Departments Special Committee (from c. 1908)
River Don Special Committee (from c. 1908)
Road Safety Special Committee (from c. 1945)
Royal Reception Special Committee (from c. 1894)
Ruskin Museum Committee (from c. 1888)
Sale of Gas Committee (from c. 1864) (from c. 1864)
Sanatorium for Consumptives Special Committee (from c. 1905)
Sewage Disposal (from c. 1960)
Sewerage and Rivers (from c. 1882)
Shah's Reception [Shah of Persia] Special Committee (from c. 1888)
Smoke Bye-laws Committee (from c. 1864)
Social Services (from c. 1970)
Social Welfare Committee (from c. 1940, formerly the Public Assistance Committee)
Special Committee of Enquiry (from c. 1904) [re irregularities in various departments]
Stage Plays Licensing Special Committee (from c. 1906) (note: for many of the preceding years this was a main committee and was not listed as a 'special committee')
Standing Orders Special Committee (from c. 1908 and again from c. 1922)
Stipendiary Magistrate Special Committee (from c. 1913)
Supporters of Arms Special Committee (from c. 1892)
Surplus Lands (from c. 1901)
Technical Instruction Special Committee (from c. 1889)
Town Clerk's Report as to use of Buildings Special Committee (from c. 1908)
Town Clerkship Special Committee (from c. 1894)
Town Planning (from 1943)
Town Planning and Civic Centres Special Committee (from c. 1935)
Town Planning Special Committee (from c. 1908)
Traffic Control Special Committee (from c. 1936)
Tramway Finances Special Committee (from c. 1905)
Tramway Promotions Special Committee (from c. 1918)
Tramways (from c. 1917 Tramways and Motors, from c. 1933 Transport Department Committee))
Tramways Committee (from c. 1871 - 1872)
Tramways Special Committee (from c. 1888)
Unemployed Relief Works Special Committee (from c. 1922)
Unemployed Special Committee (from c. 1892)
Unemployed Special Committee (second committee) (from c. 1904)
Upperthorpe Baths Special Committee (from c. 1890)
Use of Abbeyfield House and the Extension and Classification of the Museums in the City Special Committee (from c. 1912)
Volunteers (South African) Recognition Special Committee (from c. 1900) [Boer War]
War Savings Special Committee (from c. 1915)
Watch Committee (from c. 1864)
Water (from 1886)
Water Supply Committee / Water Committee (from c. 1864)
Weights and Measures Committee (from c. 1864)
Whitworth Scholarship Committee (from c. 1867)
Working of the Motor and Installation Departments of Electric Supply Undertaking Special Committee (from c. 1912)
Works Committee (from c. 1967)
Works Construction (from c. 1899)
Council minutes also list representatives of the City Council on external bodies. For example in 1945 the Council was represented on the following external committees and groups:
Assistance Board Advisory Committee;
Derwent Valley Water Board;
Gas Company, Nominee Directors of Sheffield District;
Insurance Committee;
Joint Committee re Post War Industrial Development of Sheffield;
Licensing Planning Committee for the Sheffield Area;
Local Employment Committee of Ministry of Labour;
Ouse (Yorkshire) Catchment Board;
Production Defence Committee;
Savings Committee;
Sheffield Municipal and Voluntary Hospitals Joint Advisory Committee;
Sheffield, Rotherham and District Smoke Abatement Committee;
University of Sheffield Council;
University of Sheffield Court of Governors;
War Pensions Committee;
West Riding Local Committee re Physical Training and Recreation;
West Riding of Yorkshire Mental Hospitals Board;
West Riding of Yorkshire Rivers Board;
West Riding of Yorkshire Territorial, Army and Air Force Association. |