Description

Admin History:

Among the first group of committees established by the reformed Hull Town Council was a Parliamentary Committee, sometimes also known as the Parliamentary Bills Committee. It was first suggested in the February of 1836, and in the March 7, members were duly elected to serve. It would consider all bills in parliament 'that may in any way directly or indirectly affect the rights and interests of this borough' or its trade and commerce. It also had 'full and proper powers to act as they think best'. By 1858 it's minutes were being published in its own volume.

When it came to the election of the now 16 members of the committee in November 1874, its powers had been refined. It would have the responsibility to ensure that the provisions of any act of parliament which may affect the borough of Hull were carried out appropriately. It was able, with full authority, to deal with matters that arose from time to time which could not be conveniently postponed until the next meeting of the whole council. Moreover, the committee would watch all notices of bills in parliament which could effect the interests of the corporation. If appropriate, it would present petitions to parliament for or against such bills, in the name of the council as a whole as well as being able to order the Common Seal of the Council to be attached. The committee would be able to support or oppose such bills, it would be able to appoint deputations to confer with the promoters of such Bills and to 'make such arrangements as they may think best calculated to protect the public interest'. Furthermore the committee was to give its attention to any acts of parliament that may be deemed necessary for the government or improvement of the borough, and report to the council as necessary.

At the annual meeting of the council when members were elected to committees, and in the title of it's official minutes, the committee was usually referred to as the Parliamentary Bills Committee, but invariably it was just called the Parliamentary Committee. By 1876 it had similar powers as before; to consider all bills introduced into parliament and to petition for or against or to support or oppose as appropriate to the interests of the borough. It would be able to consider the effects of bills on the trade and commerce of the port as well. It could consult with the promoters of bills and also consider any acts they felt the need to apply for in order to improve the government and improvement of the borough.

In 1881, it dropped the 'Bills' element to become officially, the Parliamentary Committee, with the same powers. All references to the borough were amended to city in 1899 when Hull gained city status. 1905 saw the responsibility for Parliamentary Orders added. These were used as a substitue for the more expensive private bills and had been a popular device since 1860. The committee had been used to dealing with them since then. July 1915 saw the committee take on the council's powers under the 1915 National Registration Act and in 1919 it became responsible for the War Charities Act as well. These 2 powers would eventually be dropped from it's remit in 1940. June 1922 saw the name change to Parliamentary and General Purposes Committee. In October 1971 it became the Civic and Parliamentary Committee until February 1974 when it was abolished under the Local Government reorganisation.

Description:

Committee records including minutes, correspondence, memos, reports and maps