Catalogue description Records of Local Government Branches and Divisions

Local Government Divisions of the Ministry of Health, 1919 to 1951

The Ministry of Health's local government divisions were responsible for general supervision of local authority services, staffing and superannuation, and for miscellaneous functions in the field of local government not carried out by specialist divisions. In particular, they took over functions formerly exercised by the Sanitary Department of the Local Government Board, the sanctioning of major schemes of public works other than those relating to housing, planning and public assistance, questions arising from local acts and the administration of the Alkali and Canal Boat Acts.

They were also concerned with local government finance and rating and valuation matters in association with the Accountant General's Department and the Audit and Statistical Division. These matters were also the concern of local rating assessment committees.

Significant powers relating to local government services were transferred to other government departments. Certain functions relating to the finance of municipal electricity undertakings and transport were transferred from the ministry to the Electricity Commission and the Ministry of Transport respectively in 1919. In 1948 power to confirm compulsory purchase orders and authorise swift acquisition procedures for land required for highway purposes were also transferred to the latter.

In 1920 supervision of local authority gas undertakings was assigned to the Board of Trade. The same year legal and advisory powers concerning public libraries, museums and gymnasia were transferred to the Board of Education. In 1921 responsibility for electoral administration was removed to the Home Office, which also took over the confirmation of byelaws relating to public places, public conveyance vehicles and markets.

Other departments were also given power to sanction schemes of public works designed to relieve unemployment. From 1920 the Unemployment Grants Committee, established by the Treasury, was associated with the ministry in authorising exchequer grants for local schemes. The ministry was responsible for the unemployment works vote and for the related works of local audit. In 1929 the committee was reconstituted and became responsible to the Ministry of Labour, which thereafter had primary responsibility for unemployment and relief works.

Under the Public Works Facilities Act 1930 the Air Ministry could make grants towards local authority aerodromes, the Board of Education could aid school building and the Ministry of Transport road building.

In 1951 the majority of the local government functions were transferred to the Ministry of Local Government and Planning: those relating to rating and valuation, environmental health and coast protection in January; those relating to local government superannuation and finance, land and property, mortuaries and certain civil defence functions in May. Other civil defence functions were transferred to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in July 1956.

Local Government Divisions of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, 1951 to 1970

Within the Ministry of Housing and Local Government from 1951 to 1956 there was a single Local Government Organisation Division which was then divided into Local Government Divisions A and B. They were responsible for the general structure and organisation of local authorities; control of miscellaneous capital expenditure; local legislation; land transactions; public health and sanitary matters, such as refuse collection and disposal; the prevention of pollution; radioactive substances; coast protection; burials and cremations etc; boundary alterations; byelaws; local government superannuation; public works; civil defence planning within the department and liaison with the Home Office; appeals arising from the cost of private street works; and, after 1969, sports and recreational facilities.

After 1963 the formerly separate Water Supply and Sewerage Division was closely linked with Division A. Most matters of local government rating and audit remained outside the sphere of these divisions and were dealt with by Local Government Finance Division and District Audit Staff. By 1970 a separate Local Government Division C had been formed to deal solely with matters of local government reorganisation.

Local Government Finance Division of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, 1951 to 1970

The Local Government Finance Division of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government was responsible for financial policy in connection with local authority borrowing, loan sanctions and management, Exchequer grants, local government financial statistics, and general questions of audit and valuation and rating including supervision of local valuation panels and courts. It did not deal with local government superannuation or grants and subsidies for specific purposes which were the responsibility of the Accountant General's Department. Both the division and the Accountant General's Department came under the control of a single under secretary, known as the accountant general and principal finance officer.