Description

Admin History:

The first Finance Committee of the Town Council was established in 1869 as a sub-committee of the Property Committee. However in September 1876 it was decided to merge the two officially to form the Finance and Property Committee. Three years later though, in October 1879, the 2 reverted back into separate committees, which took effect from the November of that year.

During this period, and up to the late 19th century, the Finance Committee had variously, with one or two minor amendments, the following powers and duties:-

1) To consider and, from time to time, report on the amount of rates necessary to be levied by the Council, either under the Municipal Acts or otherwise, so as to proportion the amount of rates to the actual expenditure in each year.

2) To procure estimates of expenditure from the several other Committees, and to prepare the general estimates of expenditure, and take all other proceedings preliminary to the fixing and laying by the Council of all Borough and other Rates, and to order the direct notices of proceedings for enforcing payment of such rates when made, and of accounts due to the Committee.

3) To direct and control the Collectors (of Rates and accounts) and to determine the security to be taken from each.

4) To execute all the powers and duties of the Council with respect to applications for abatements from, or amendments or alterations in all, or any, of the said rates or assessments, and in the name, and as the act of the Council, to make amendments or alterations in any of such rates or assessments, in such a manner and to such extent as the Council are by law empowered to do. To hear and determine applications to be excused payment of any rates in whole or part, and to compound with owners of cottages and dwelling-houses for payment of a sum less that the whole of any rate, pursuant to any authority in anywise enabling the Council in that behalf.

5) To make orders in writing upon the Treasurer for the payment of salaries of the various Officers of the Council, and also upon the recommendation of the Executive Committees for the payment of the weekly and other wages of the workmen employed in the several departments, and to make all other orders upon the Treasurer for the payment of money on account of the Mayor, Alderman and Burgesses and Citizens, in any capacity; such orders to be signed by three Members of the Committee, and the countersigned by the Town Clerk.

6) To examine the accounts sent in by various other Committees, and to make orders in writing, signed as above mentioned for such Accounts.

7) To make orders in writing signed as above mentioned upon the Treasurer, for the payment of such money as may be recommended by any Committee of the Council to be paid to Contractors in their respective departments, on account of Contract work authorized by the Council; also for payment of all rents, taxes, charges, interest, or other outgoings due from the Council in respect of occupation of any offices or premises, or by virtue of any deed or instrument under Seal or Contract in writing, and of all moneys directed by resolution of the Council to be paid out of any of the funds of the Borough or City.

8) To negotiate all loans of money (not negotiated by any other Committee) (which was later omitted) which may from time to time be ordered by the Council to be raised by mortgages, (later amended to 'by mortgage or otherwise') and direct the preparation and issues of mortgages, debentures, interest, coupons, and other securities for loans, when accepted by the Council.

9) To direct and superintend the payment and keeping of all accounts. This was amended to direct and superintend and keeping of all the pecuniary accounts of the Corporation.

10) To examine and check vouchers for payments, and to superintend the audit thereof.

11) To execute and carry out, in the name and on behalf of the Council, all resolutions and instructions of the Council from time to time given with reference to rates, finance, or accounts.

12) To have the control of the Clerks, Collectors, and servants in this department, and fixing of their salaries, wages and allowances, subject to the confirmation of the Council. This was later to The Treasurer, Accountant, Clerks, Collectors and servants.

13) To consider and report from time to time what measures are necessary to confining the expenditure of the Corporation within the income of the year.

14) In or before the month of July, to prepare estimates of the probable expenditure of this Committee during the next ensuing year, and submit the same, together with the several estimates of the other Committees, to the Council at the Monthly Meeting in August, in each year. This was changed to March and then February.

15) To exercise all and every powers and authorities with reference to the settling, ascertaining, and recovery of the expenses incurred in sewering, levelling, paving, flagging, and channelling streets not repairable by the inhabitants at large, conferred on the Council (by the Borough Improvement Act, ) in the name and on behalf of the Council, and in such manner as the Committee may deem most advisable. However the reference to the Borough Improvement Act was later omitted.

From the early 20th century, there had been a number of changes to such

Duties and Powers, of the Finance Committee reflecting the changing needs of the council and legislation form central government.

1) In or before the month of January, to receive and consider the estimates from the various Committees of the Council of their expenditure during their next financial year, (and to comply with Standing Orders Nos. 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 and 73 relating to expenditure). This was amended to Nos. 69, 70, 71, 72, 73 and 74 from 1911/12 and omitted from 1922-1923.

2) To consider all applications for abatements from or amendments or alterations in all, or any, of the said rates or assessments, and to recommend any amendments, or alterations in any such rates or assessments, and to compound with the owners of cottages and dwelling-houses for payments of as than the whole of the rate, pursuant to any authority in anywise enabling the Council in that behalf. This was initially amended consider al applications for abatements, or amendments or alterations in all or any of the rates for which the Corporation are responsible, and to recommend any amendments or alterations in any such rates, and to compound with the owners of hereditaments for payment of a sum less than the whole of any rate, pursant to any authority in anywise enabling the Council in that behalf. And then a new section 'To deal with all matters relating to the revision of wages and which have heretofore been referred to a Special Committee of Chairman and Deputy Chairman' was added.

3) To supervise the keeping of the Corporation accounts and to give any directions which may be necessary as to the collection of moneys payable to the Corporation, and to determine the security to be taken from each of the Collectors.

4) To examine the accounts passed by the various Committees, and to report the same to the Council for order of payments.

5) To negotiate all loans of money which may from time to time be ordered by the Council to be raised and to direct the creation and issue of stock, mortgages, debentures, interest coupons, bills, and all other securities for loans.

6) To conduct and manage the Hull Corporation Stick and exercise all the powers conferred upon the Council with respect thereto, and to invest the Sinking Funds according to the provisions of the several statutes that behalf.

7) To recommend to the Council the persons to be appointed Overseers and Assistant Overseers respectively although this was omitted from 1927-1928.

8) To appoint Valuers under Section 10(6) of the Finance Act, 1894.

9) After the close of each financial year (31st March) to submit to the Council the Corporation Accounts for such financial year. 1905-1906

10) To administer the Local Government and other Officers' Superannuation Act, 1922. This was later amended and added to, to include subsequent changes to the Superannuation legislation:- Section 54 of the Kingston upon Hull Corporation Act, 1930; the Local Government and other Officers' Superannuation (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1933. and the Local Government Superannuation Act, 1937.

By 1942-1943, the powers and duties of the Finance Committee had to again be revised, and again added to or alerted as required:-

1) In or before the month of January, to received and consider the estimates from the various Committees of the Council of their expenditure during the next financial year.

2) To deal with all matters relating to the assessment and collection of any rates for which the Council are responsible.

3) To deal with all matters regarding the revision or rates of wages and working conditions relating thereto.

4) To supervise the keeping of the Corporation accounts and generally to have the managements of the revenues and finances of the Council.

5) To examine the accounts passed by the various Committees and to report the same to the Council for order of payment.

6) To negotiate all loans of money, which may from time to time be ordered by the Council to be raised, and to direct the creation and issue of stock, mortgages, debentures, interest coupons, bills and all other securities for loans.

7) To conduct and manage the Hull Corporation Stock and exercise all the powers conferred upon the Council with respect thereto.

8) To appoint Valuers under Section 10(6) of the Finance Act, 1894.

9) After the close of each financial year (31st March) to submit to the Council the Corporation Accounts for such financial year.

10) To administer all statutory provisions relating to the superannuation of employees and their dependents.

11) To have the management of the Capital, Consolidated Loans, Insurance and Renewal and Repairs Funds of the Corporation. 1953-1954

12) To deal with the insurance against fire of all building and other property of the Corporation were added in 1963-1964 from Property and Bridges Committee.

13) To deal with all matters relating to any rates for which the Council are responsible.

14) To deal with matters regarding the revision of rates of wages and working conditions relating thereto, although this was omitted for 1971-1972

15) Generally to have the managements of the revenue, investments and finances of the Council, and of all loans of money which may from time to time be ordered by the Council to be raised, and to direct the creation and issue of stock, mortgages, bonds, bills and all other securities for loans. From 1971-1972 this was passed to the Policy (Resources) Committee.

16) To conduct and manage Hull Corporation Stock and exercise all the powers conferred upon the Council with respect thereto.

17) To appoint Valuers under Section 10(6) of the Finance Act, 1894.

18) To administer all statutory provisions as to Local Government Superannuation relating to the superannuation of employees and their dependents.

19) To have the management of the Consolidated Loans Capital, Insurance and Renewal and Repairs Funds of the Corporation.

20) To deal with the insurance matters in respect to the property, rights, interest, life or limb or potential liability devolving upon the Corporation.

21) To deal with all matters regarding the issue of motor vehicle and driving licenses from1964-1965 until 1974 when the council cease to responsible for such licences.

The Finance Committee would finally disappear in 1991 as the result of local government re-organisation.

Description:

Committee records include correspondence, reports, details (unofficial) of the duty on payable on land values, local taxation reports, memos and various returns