County Councils

County councils were elected bodies established by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889.[1] They inherited almost all the functions of commissioners of supply, and those of county road trusts and local authorities set up under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Acts and Destructive Insects Acts. They also took over some administrative powers from the justices of the peace, but not their licensing or judicial functions.[2] The responsibilities of the commissioners of supply for police matters were transferred to standing joint committees made up of commissioners of supply and county councillors. County councils were required to appoint full-time county medical officers of health and sanitary inspectors, and the local public health functions of parochial boards in landward areas were transferred to district committees of the county councils.[3]

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929 abolished district committees, standing joint committees, commissioners of supply, parish councils, education authorities and other bodies, and transferred all or most of their functions to county councils.[4] The act also designated the burghs as either large burghs or small burghs and designated the four cities of Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen as counties of cities. The main impact of the act was in the areas of the poor law and education. County councils were now responsible for education everywhere except in the four counties of cities, and for the poor law and public health except in the counties of cities and large burghs. The act also required the county councils to prepare a scheme for coverage by district councils, which had various responsibilities passed to them by the county council under a scheme of delegation. These might include the letting of houses, the upkeep of cemeteries and, until 1948, the poor law. District councils also administered special districts or committees responsible for certain functions such as scavenging or water supply, financed by additional rates. These district councils were abolished in 1975.[5] They should not be confused with the new district councils created in 1975 and which were subsequently abolished in 1996.

In 1947 the counties of Perth and Kinross and the counties of Moray and Nairn were combined for all the functions that county councils provided for small burghs.[6] These were listed in the 1929 act and included registration of births, deaths and marriages, valuations, public health, food and drugs standards and town planning. Additional functions were given to counties, counties of cities and large burghs in subsequent legislation, including responsibilities for care of children and social work.[7]

County councils were obliged to have county funds into which all receipts of the county, from whatever source, were paid. Payments were made to the county treasurer, who provided information about the county’s financial affairs to its finance committee. The finance committee presented an annual budget to the county council containing estimated income and expenditure of the county fund, and provisions for raising the sum required to bridge the gap between the income and expenditure. Rates levied on the gross annual value of lands and heritages as they appeared on the valuation roll were required from ratepayers to meet any deficiency between the county’s income and expenditure. Annual accounts of income and expenditure were compiled and presented for audit by an appropriate officer. The abstracts of accounts provide a summary overview of all the council’s financial dealings.

The Association of County Councils was formed in 1894 to promote and protect county council functions, enable county councils to work together and share expertise. County councils were abolished in 1975 and their powers transferred to regional, islands and district councils.[8]

County Council records are mainly held by local authority archives services. However, the National Records of Scotland (NRS) holds the records of Midlothian County Council (CO2). NRS also holds the records of the Association of County Councils, 1894-1975 (CO1).

Compilers: SCAN contributors (2000). Editor: Elspeth Reid (2021)

Related Knowledge Base entries

District committees (1889-1930)

District councils (1930-1975)

Bibliography

Slevin, John, ‘Rural Administration’ in Source book and history of administrative law in Scotland ed. by M. R. McLarty (Hodge, 1956) pp. 13-28

Whyte, W. E., The Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929: a popular exposition of its provisions (Hodge & Co, 1929)

Whyte, W. E., Local Government in Scotland (Hodge & Co, 1936)

References

[1] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c.50).

[2] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c.50) s.11.

[3] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c.50) s.17.