Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1846-1956 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
7 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The concept of the Court of Common Council grew from the ancient custom of the Folkmoot, when the assent of the citizens to important acts was obtained. This custom was continued by the Mayor who consulted the Commons several times during the 13th century. From 1376 the assembly began to meet regularly and was referred to as the Common Council. It was decided that the Council should be made up of persons elected from each Ward. By 1384 a permanent Common Council chosen by the citizens was established for all time. The Council assumed legislative functions and adopted financial powers, confirmed by Charters of 1377 and 1383. The Council has often used these powers to amend the civic constitution, regulate the election of Lord Mayor and other officials, and amend the functions of the City courts. The Council was judged so successful in the conduct of its duties that it was the only Corporation unreformed by Parliament following the Municipal Corporations Commission report of 1837, while the Corporation Inquiry Commission of 1854 suggested only minor reforms. The work of the Council is conducted by a number of committees, while the whole Council has the right to approve policy, confirm major decisions and sanction expenditure. The committees handle many aspects of the running of the City including land and estates, finance and valuation, open spaces, street improvement and town planning, public health, police, Port of London, civil defence, airports, libraries, markets, education, and law. The Town Clerk has held responsibility for recording the minutes of the Council and its committees since 1274.
The Law, Parliamentary and City Courts Committee was appointed by a resolution of Common Council on 17 Jan 1856. It took over the function of the Law Bills, Parliamentary and Secondaries Committees, which approved bills submitted by law officers, watched bills in Parliament likely to affect the rights of citizens and enquired into the office of Secondary and the practice of the Sheriffs' Court. In 1878 it dropped the parliamentary work and was renamed as the Law and City Courts Committee. The duties were transferred to the General Purpose Committee on 24 Jan 1957.
Repository
Archival history
COL/CC/LPC 1846-1956 subfonds 7 linear metres Corporation of London
The concept of the Court of Common Council grew from the ancient custom of the Folkmoot, when the assent of the citizens to important acts was obtained. This custom was continued by the Mayor who consulted the Commons several times during the 13th century. From 1376 the assembly began to meet regularly and was referred to as the Common Council. It was decided that the Council should be made up of persons elected from each Ward. By 1384 a permanent Common Council chosen by the citizens was established for all time. The Council assumed legislative functions and adopted financial powers, confirmed by Charters of 1377 and 1383. The Council has often used these powers to amend the civic constitution, regulate the election of Lord Mayor and other officials, and amend the functions of the City courts. The Council was judged so successful in the conduct of its duties that it was the only Corporation unreformed by Parliament following the Municipal Corporations Commission report of 1837, while the Corporation Inquiry Commission of 1854 suggested only minor reforms. The work of the Council is conducted by a number of committees, while the whole Council has the right to approve policy, confirm major decisions and sanction expenditure. The committees handle many aspects of the running of the City including land and estates, finance and valuation, open spaces, street improvement and town planning, public health, police, Port of London, civil defence, airports, libraries, markets, education, and law. The Town Clerk has held responsibility for recording the minutes of the Council and its committees since 1274.
The Law, Parliamentary and City Courts Committee was appointed by a resolution of Common Council on 17 Jan 1856. It took over the function of the Law Bills, Parliamentary and Secondaries Committees, which approved bills submitted by law officers, watched bills in Parliament likely to affect the rights of citizens and enquired into the office of Secondary and the practice of the Sheriffs' Court. In 1878 it dropped the parliamentary work and was renamed as the Law and City Courts Committee. The duties were transferred to the General Purpose Committee on 24 Jan 1957.
Corporation of London Records Office.
Records of the Law, Parliamentary and City Courts Committee, Court of Common Council, including minutes and committee papers, 1856-1956, standing orders, 1856, administrative papers and correspondence, 1846-1930.
In sections according to catalogue.
Available for general access
Copyright City of London
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
For Corporation of London records relating to Corporation of London dealings with Parliament, see: COL/CA/PYA: Court of Aldermen Parliamentary Committee, COL/AD: Administration, COL/CC/CTC: Consolidated Committee, COL/CC/JTC: Joint Committee, COL/CC/LLC: law Bills Committee, COL/CC/LGT: Local Government and Taxation Committee, COL/CC/LPC: Law, Parliamentary and City Courts Committee, COL/CC/MIN: Committees, COL/CC/PPC: Policy and Parliamentary Committee, COL/CC/PRC: Policy and Resources Committee, COL/CC/PYC: Court of Common Council Parliamentary Committee, COL/CC/SPC: Special Committee and COL/RMD/PA: Remembrancer's Department: Parliamentary. See also COL/CC/SDC: Secondary and Sheriffs' Courts Committee.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. February 2009 Parliamentary Committee , Court of Common Council , Corporation of London Law Bills Committee , Court of Common Council , Corporation of London Law Law, Parliamentary and City Courts Committee , Court of Common Council , Corporation of London x Law and City Courts Committee Legislation Parliamentary bills People People by occupation Personnel Legal profession personnel Administration of justice Courts Secondaries Committee , Court of Common Council , Corporation of London
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Corporation of London Records Office.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Law, Parliamentary and City Courts Committee, Court of Common Council, including minutes and committee papers, 1856-1956, standing orders, 1856, administrative papers and correspondence, 1846-1930.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
In sections according to catalogue.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available for general access
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright City of London
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
For Corporation of London records relating to Corporation of London dealings with Parliament, see: COL/CA/PYA: Court of Aldermen Parliamentary Committee, COL/AD: Administration, COL/CC/CTC: Consolidated Committee, COL/CC/JTC: Joint Committee, COL/CC/LLC: law Bills Committee, COL/CC/LGT: Local Government and Taxation Committee, COL/CC/LPC: Law, Parliamentary and City Courts Committee, COL/CC/MIN: Committees, COL/CC/PPC: Policy and Parliamentary Committee, COL/CC/PRC: Policy and Resources Committee, COL/CC/PYC: Court of Common Council Parliamentary Committee, COL/CC/SPC: Special Committee and COL/RMD/PA: Remembrancer's Department: Parliamentary. See also COL/CC/SDC: Secondary and Sheriffs' Courts Committee.
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English