IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): COL/CC/CLBH
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL: CITY LANDS AND BRIDGE HOUSE ESTATES COMMITTEE
Date(s): 1969-2008
Level of description: sub-fonds
Extent: 1.2 linear metres
Name of creator(s): Corporation of London
CONTEXT
Administrative/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 City Lands Committee was first appointed in 1592 and is responsible for the management of the corporate estates of the City, for maintaining properties, granting leases and enforcing covenants. The Bridge House Committee was responsible for the maintenance and letting of properties held by the Corporation for the upkeep of London Bridge and other bridges. In 1968 the City Lands Committee took over the investments part of the Bridge House Committee, while the responsibility for control and maintenance of bridges was transferred at the same time to the new Planning and Communications Committee. The City Lands Committee was therefore re-designated the City and Bridge House Estates Committee. In 1969 this was changed to "The City Lands and Bridge House Estates Committee".
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the City Lands and Bridge House Estates Committee, comprising minutes, 1969-2008 and minutes of the hospitality working party, 1990-1997. Please note some of these records are closed.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
In sections according to catalogue.
Conditions governing access:
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright: City of London
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Corporation of London Records Office.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
For Corporation of London records relating to Bridge House Estates see: CLA/008: City Lands Estates, CLA/020: Tower Bridge, CLA/022: London Bridge, CLA/061: Jacobs Family, COL/AC: Archives, COL/AD: Administration, COL/CC/BHC: Court of Common Council Bridge House Committee, COL/CC/BHT: Court of Common Council Bridge House Trust Committee, COL/CC/CLBH: Court of Common Council City Lands and Bridge House Estate Committee, COL/CC/CLC: Court of Common Council City Lands Committee, COL/CC/JTB: Court of Common Council Joint Bridge House Estates and Improvement Committee, COL/CC/JTS: Joint Bridge House and Special Committee, COL/CC/JTT: Joint Bridge House Estates and Thames Navigation and Port of London Committee, COL/CCS/CO: Comptroller and City Solicitor, COL/CHD/BH: Chamberlain's Department: Bridge House Estates, COL/CHD/IM: Chamberlain's Department: Improvements, COL/CHD/RN: Chamberlain's Department: Rents and Rentals, COL/CSD/HO: Community Services Department: Housing, COL/CT: Charters, COL/OF: Officers, COL/PL: Plans, COL/PLD/PL: Planning Department Plans, COL/SVD/PL: Surveyor's Department Plans, COL/TSD/PL: Technical Services Department Plans.
For Corporation of London records relating to City Lands Estates see: CLA/007: Bridge House Estates, COL/AC: Archives, COL/BR: Brokers, COL/CC/BHC: Court of Common Council Bridge House Committee, COL/CC/CLBH: Court of Common Council City Lands and Bridge House Estate Committee, COL/CC/CLC: Court of Common Council City Lands Committee, COL/CCS/CO: Comptroller and City Solicitor: Comptroller, COL/CCS/PL: Comptroller and City Solicitor: Plans, COL/CHD/CM: Chamberlain's Department: Chamber Accounts, COL/CHD/DM: Chamberlain's Department: Duties and Metage, COL/OF: Officers, COL/PL: Plans, COL/PLD/PL: Planning Department Plans, COL/RMD/CE: Remembrancer's Department: Ceremonial, COL/SJ: Subject Series: Subjects, COL/SP: Subject Series: Places, COL/SVD/PL: Surveyor's Department Plans, COL/TSD/PL: Technical Services Department Plans.
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Date(s) of descriptions: February 2009