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Admin History:

1835 saw the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act which was to change the way local councils in England would be run and administered. Hull was no different, and the council that was elected to run the town after the act was very different from that of the one before it. It was elected from a wider constituent base as a result of the new property qualification. The way Hull, like many other towns chose to run its business would be through the establishment of various committees, whether standing or permanent (for example the Water and Works Committees) or through special or specific ones (such as the Greek Gypsy or Profiteering Committees).

Over the years the areas in which the Corporation of Hull began to involve itself grew as it looked to improve life in the town. There were moves to extend the public utilities with improved water and power supplies, transport and telephones, which prompted their own committees. The council would also establish committees in reponse to private initatives, central government legislation and cultural activities such as public libraries.

The Corporation merged with a number other bodies, such as the health boards in 1876, the school boards in 1903 and the Poor Law Guardians in 1930. This meant new responsiblites and new committees. Hull was granted county borough status under the 1888 Local Government Act and became a full city in 1897.

Despite the ravages of the Second World War, the government of the city continued, through its regular committees as well as a specific Emergency Committee. Post war there were many changes, with for example the the nationalisation of the water industry which meant the end of the water committee. Local Government reform in 1975 saw the creation of Humberside County Council which resulted in areas such as Education and the Fire Brigade transferring to the new county. From being a county borough, the new council that was left became a district council, with committees such as Leisure Services and Planning. In 1996 Humberside was abolished under more local government reforms and a new unitary authority for Hull was created. In 1999 the committee system was reorganised completely, with a leader and cabinet style executitve arrangement.

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