Subfonds COL/CC/LPC - COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL: LAW, {PARLIAMENTARY} AND CITY COURTS COMMITTEE

Identity area

Reference code

COL/CC/LPC

Title

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL: LAW, {PARLIAMENTARY} AND CITY COURTS COMMITTEE

Date(s)

  • 1846-1956 (Creation)

Level of description

Subfonds

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.

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

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area