Cork County Council Minute Books

Context

Creator(s): Cork County Council

• Administrative History ↴

  Cork County Council came into being in 1899 with the coming into effect of the Local Government Act, 1898. Prior to this, local government functions had been carried out by bodies such as the Grand Juries, which oversaw expenditure on roads, bridges, and public buildings, and the Boards of Guardians, which since 1838 had administered relief of the poor through the workhouse system. These bodies were not abolished until 1925, but the Council had gradually assumed most of their powers. That year also saw the abolition of Rural District Councils, created under the 1898 Act, but now absorbed by the Council and by regional Boards of Health and Public Assistance. The 1934 Dividing Order created three Cork Health Districts, North, West, and South, which effectively became the Council’s administrative regions. In 1942 the County Management Act, 1940, came into effect, creating the post of County Manager with executive powers relating to administration, while the elected Council continued to make decisions on policy and key areas known as reserved functions. Health Acts in 1950 and 1960 led to the creation of the Southern Health Board (later Health Service Executive South), ending the Council’s function as a health authority. The Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, greatly expanded the Council’s planning powers, leading over time to the adoption of five-yearly County Development Plans. Legislation and reform initiatives in the 1980s and 1990s were largely consolidated in the Local Government Act, 2001. The functions of the Council have changed and evolved over time, but main areas of responsibility have tended to include Roads, Social Housing, Water and Sanitation, Public Health, Higher Education Grants, Planning and Development, the Environment, and Estimates and Rates. Other functions and sub-functions over the years have included the following: Re-assignment or compensation of former Grand Jury officers, appointment of rate collectors, fixing ‘sudden breaches’ (e.g. storm damage), approval of RDC, UDC, and Proposals Committee payments, ordering of elections for rural district vacancies, maintaining courthouses, repair and upkeep of harbours, issuing cinema licences, providing public conveniences, managing cemeteries, acquisition/disposal of land, administering sheep dipping stations, funding reformatories and industrial schools and (later) vocational schools, taking over of roads, loans for water and sewerage schemes, setting speed limits, making grants for works of public amenity, recognition of local councils, requests for local telephone kiosks, Village Renewal Schemes, rates remission under Undeveloped Areas Acts 1952 to 1963 and Gaeltacht Areas Acts 1957 to 1971, appointment of lifeguards, approval of taxi fare revisions in the Cork Taxi Meter Area, contributions to arts events and organizations, provision of car parks, waste collection, provision of landfill and recycling facilities. For other functions, see the ‘Scope and Content’ of individual minute books. For the performance of its functions and day-to-day administration, the Council is reliant on its staff, and its key administrative officers. The post of County Secretary, occupied by Eugene Callanan from 1904 to 1931, was central to the development of the Council’s administration. County Surveyors oversaw the discharge of roads and public works in the county’s districts. A single office of County Engineer was created in 1958, incorporating the functions of the County Surveyors. The post of County Solicitor, also known as Law Agent, has existed since the creation of the Council. The office of County Librarian was created in 1925, and that of County Architect in 1964. The County Manager is supported in his work by Assistant County Managers. Initially there were two assistants, but since 1973 there have been three. For most of its existence, the Council has been funded by the collection of rates on property, supplemented by State grants. Over time, the importance of grants has grown, particularly after the abolition of domestic rates in 1978. The Council continues to derive income from development charges, motor taxation, and other sources. From its creation until 1968, the whole Council met at Cork Courthouse, which also served as its administrative headquarters. In 1968, the new Council Offices at County Hall on Carrigrohane Road, Cork, were opened. The Council also has divisional offices at Mallow (North) and Clonakilty and Skibbereen (West), as well as a network of area engineer’s offices and libraries throughout the county.

• Archival History ↴

  Official Transfer from Cork County Council

• Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

  Official Transfer