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The council acquired the Yorkshire museum and gardens in trust from the Yorkshire Philosophical Society in 1961.
Function created when museum and gardens transferred to council by Yorkshire Philosophical Trust in 1961. Function transferred to York Museums Trust in 2002.

The first named common clerk was Nicholas Seizevaux in 1317. The name gradually changed over time to town clerk. From 1708 it appears deputies were provided, one of whom, William Giles, restored and catalogued the city archives between 1892-1909. The office became formally full-time in 1886. The name changed in the twentieth century to Chief Executive.
The term "common clerk" was replaced with "town clerk" which was eventually replaced by "chief executive" in the later twentieth century.

Initially a single post, this expanded to a discrete department in the mid twentieth century with a chief inspector at its head.

Appointed by a meeting of full council on 22nd Feb 1805. It is unclear without further research whether the gaps in the records represent lost volumes or inactivity. The Finance Commmittee established in 1836 may have been its indirect successor.
The Finance Commmittee established in 1836 may have been it's indirect successor.

The surviving records cover the period 1704-1773 and 1779-1814 but this may not represent the full length of the committee's activity.
See also Estates Committee (1884-1974)

In 1897 the Corporation formally decided to supply the city with electricity. The Electric Lighting Committee recruited the first City Electrical Engineer in 1899 and oversaw the construction of a power station at Foss Islands which opened in 1900.
The Committee was renamed the Electricity Committee in 1904 because other uses of electricity had increased.
Instructed City Electrical Engineer.

The "48" were the most junior tier of representation and emerged in the 14th century from the craft gilds. A common council was instituted in 1518, made up of two members from each of thirteen crafts. This was then expanded in 1633 and switched to geographical representation, with 72 members elected from the four wards. In 1663, outside elections ceased, and vacancies were filled by nomination.
See also Aldermen / The "12" and Councillors / "The 24"

Created in 2002 as a charitable trust to run York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum and Gardens and York St Mary's. The buildings and collections remain the property of the council, who also provide part of the funding. Carried out various refurbishment and development work, and achieved growth in visitor numbers.
Independent to council but contractual arrangement for delivering service using council assets.

Established when the corporation bought York prison in 1934. Historically the area around the castle (Clifford's Tower) had been owned by the crown and was outside corporation jurisdiction. There were plans to convert the castle area into municipal offices, and foundations were dug but the scheme was interrupted by WWII and never carried out. The folk museum, known as the Castle Museum was opened in 1938 in the female prison and expanded into the debtor's prison in 1952.
Shared functions with the Castle Museum Committee, established 1940.

The first Electrical Engineer was appointed by the Electric Lighting Committee in 1899 to oversee and manage the Corporation's electrical generating station at Foss Islands, which opened in 1900. In 1948 control passed to the North Eastern Electricity Board due to nationalisation and the Corporation ceased generating electricity.
Reported to the Electricity Committee.

The 1212 charter included the right to select a mayor and pay the city's fee farm directly. The Lord Mayor serves a one year term at a time, but may be Mayor more than once. The Lord Mayor was traditionally drawn from the pool of aldermen, and returned to being an aldermen afterwards. The Lord Mayor is supported by the Lady Mayoress who may be a spouse or other female relative. The first female Lord Mayor of York was Edna Crichton in 1941-1942.
See also Mayor and Commonality of the City of York. Charitable functions chiefly transferred to York Charity Trustees in 1837, though some individual cases remained.

Renamed in 1949, presumably to represent the full range of duties.
See also Chief Constable and City Police. Formerly Watch Committee (1835-1949). In 1965 the committee was split into two separate committees: the Fire and Licensing Committee and the Watch Committee.

The role of parish constables developed over centuries, with royal edicts dating from 1285, and form part of the communal organisation of local affairs via the administrative unit of the parish. In York, the number of parishes led to a large number of constables, and the relationship between the corporation and these parish officials was complex. They came under the jurisdiction and direction of Justices of the Peace in the 17th century. They were replaced by a professional, corporation-run police force in 1835 in York.
Crime prevention and investigation function taken over by City of York police in 1835.

Created by private act of Parliament in 1793, the trustees were a private body, funded by tolls on goods carried. Suffered financial and management difficulties. The corporation obtained an Act of Parliament to take over the navigation in 1853.
Function transferred to corporation in 1853.

The committee was a joint committee with both councillors and staff representatives as members.

This is the original title of the corporate body of the citizens of York, as used in charters and other legal documents.
This is the original title of the ancient corporation, which was reformed in 1835. In 1974 it became a district council within North Yorkshire County Council and then a unitary authority once more as the City of York Council in 1996.

Not every resident of York was a freemen, and not all freemen were residents. Prior to 1835, the freemen formed the electorate, served as the civic administration, and returned Members of Parliament. The proportion of locally-born and incoming freeman varied over time, and did the cost and ease of access. Honorary freemen were also appointed, often royality or members of the nobility. The corporation strictly regulated the freedom, punishing unfree offenders and overseeing the guilds.

In 1996 York became a unitary authority once more as the City of York Council.
Previously known as "the Mayor and Commonality of the City of York", it developed into the historical Corporation (see City of York Corporation (Unreformed). The corporation was reformed in 1835, became a district council with North Yorkshire County Council in 1974 and a unitary authority once more as the City of York Council in 1996.

The petty sessions in York were presided over by the Lord Mayor, aldermen and sheriffs from 1392, and aldermen also made up the Justices of the Peace for the Quarter sessions. York included several liberties such as the Liberty of St Peter and Davy Hall which were outside this jurisdiction. The Municipal Corporations Act setup a new Commission of the Peace and transferred this function out of the corporation in 1835.
Function transferred to Commission of the Peace in 1835.

Formed from one part of the Watch and Fire Services Committee.
See also Chief Constable and City Police. Functions transferred in 1965 from the Watch and Fire Service committee. Other functions of that committee transferred to the Watch Committee (1965-1969).

Formed to carry out the provisions of the the Unemployed Workers Act in 1905, the membership was comprised of members of the corporation and members of the Board of Guardians.

The Estates Committee was responsible for the city estate including the bar walls and corporation property (used for both public and private purposes). It also included assets such as the city plate and weaponry.
See also the Committee of Leases (1703-1813) and Housing Committee (1920-1974). Allotment functions transferred to Parks Comittee in 1913. Instructed City Surveyor.

York's bailiffs became sheriffs when the city became a county in 1396. The number was reduced to one in 1836.
Replaced bailiffs in 1396. Some legal functions transferred to Recorder in 1835.

In 1974 York lost its status as a county borough and became a district council within North Yorkshire County Council.
Previously known as "the Mayor and Commonality of the City of York", it deveoped into the historical Corporation (see City of York Corporation (Unreformed). The corporation was reformed in 1835, became a district council with North Yorkshire County Council in 1974 and a unitary authority once more as the City of York Council in 1996.

York acquired a local Act of Parliament to improve street cleaning and street lighting.. The act of 1763 required water spouts on properties, and reiterated that householders were responsibile for keeping the street clean in front of their house. Street lamps were placed at intervals and lit in the darker months. The parish commissioners were replaced by an independant body of city-wide commissioners in 1826.
Legislated for functions previously carried out informally. Replaced by City Commissioners in 1826.

The basis of the "Old Poor Law" system. Each parish was required to select two Overseers of the Poor each year to collect money from parishioners and distribute locally to those in need. York had previously established its own corporate weekly poor rate in the 1570s.
In York, distribution functions transferred to Board of Guardians in 1837. Rate-collecting functions transferred to council Rating and Valuation Committee in 1925.

The Local Board of Health was merged with the corporation in 1872 and this committee was its replacement. The boundaries between the urban and rural district became problematic as housing was extended, and in wasn't until 1884 that the city was legally expanded to take in this area. A Medical Officer of Health and Chief Sanitary Inspector were appointed in 1873. During this period a sewerage scheme was authorised and carried out.
Gained functions from Local Board of Health when it merged with the corporation in 1872. Instructed Medical Officer of Health, Chief Sanitary Inspector and Inspector of Nuisances.

Following the reform of the corporation, a police force was set up in 1835 and first chief constable apppointed.
Full responsibility for policing transferred to Corporation in 1835 (from Magistrates, Parish Constables and City Commissioners). See also Chief Constable and City Police. Responsibility for prisons transferred to Home Secretary in 1877. Renamed Watch and Fire Services Committee in 1949. Gained fire brigade responsibilites from Yorkshire Insurance Company in 1875.

Prior to the formation of this committee, each committee organised its own procurement. The Salaries Commitee suggested that a Stores Sub-committee should be setup to co-ordinate this purchasing. It first met on 24th Janurary 1921.
Name changed from Stores Committee to Stores and Purchasing Committee c. 1952.

The Mental Deficient Act 1913 made provision for the separation of people deemed to have "mental deficiencies" out from the Poor Law system and into a separate institutional care system. Made up of the corporation Mental Health Committee plus other co-opted members.
Membership included the Mental Health Committee plus others.

Reported to Tramways Committee (1910-1911), Electricity and Tramways Committee (1911-1923)

York had three bailiffs. They were replaced by two sheriffs when York became a county in 1396.
Replaced by sheriffs in 1396.

Responsibility for sanitary conditions of factories transferred to Sanitary Inspector in 1921.
See Also - City of York Tramways Company

An occasional committee setup by the Local Board of Health Committee in 1854 when the current contract for the supply of gas lighting was coming to an end.

In 1835 the traditional post of Chamberlain was replaced with that of City Treasurer.
Replaced the Chamberlain when the Corporation was reformed in 1835. Some functions temporarily transferred to a City Accountant 1884-1905.

In 1921 the corporation purchased Acomb Hall estate and the house was turned into a new Maternity hospital in 1922. It merged with the original Ogleforth voluntary maternity hospital.
Instructed Visiting Surgeon and Resident Medical Officer (female).

Reported to Castle Museum Committee (1940-c.1973 and Castle Museum and Art Gallery Committee (c.1973-1980s)

Originally Sub-committee of York Education Committee. Renamed Youth Employment Sub-Committee in 1949

The earliest extant minute book dates from 1869 but it may have met earlier.

Gas was provided privately in York by the York Gas Light Company and the York Union Gas Light Company who merged to form the York United Gas Light Company in 1844.

The first professional curator, Hans Hess was appointed in 1947 and resigned in 1967.
Reported to Museums and Art Gallery Committee, Art Gallery Committee and Castle Museum and Art Gallery Committee.

First mentioned in 1290, the number of elected chamberlains ranged from three to eight. There was typically a chief chamberlain, or "Lord Mayor's Chamberlain" and a number of others either for support or in name only. How desirable the posts were varied over time: in the fifteenth century holders often had to supplement the city's finances from their own, whereas in the seventeen century the posts were seen as the first step on the ladder of civic office. The post was replaced by that of City Treasurer when the Corporation was reformed in 1835.
Replaced by City Treasurer in 1835.

Formed by a merger of the two competing local private gas companies. The inherited Monk Bridge gas generating site was extended in 1847 and the Hungate site sold in 1850. The works and supply areas were extended various times by Act of Parliament. There was tension between the private company and the Corporation who sought to buy it in 1871 (unsuccessfully) and attempted to block its expansion in Parliament in 1912. Control was transfered to the North-Eastern Gas board in 1948 when electricity and gas were nationalised.
Formed by merger of York Gas Light Company and York Union Gas Light Company in 1844.
Changed name to York Gas Company in 1912

In 1926 responsibility for collecting rates and valuing city property was taken away from the Overseers of the Poor and given to the Corporation. This committee was established to carry this out.
Took over function from Overseers of the Poor in 1926.

Met occasionally to negotiate with the National Telephone Company Ltd regarding costs, installing telegraph poles and cables.

Opened first tram line (horse-drawn) in York from Castle bridge to Fulford in 1880.
Function transferred to City of York Tramways Company in 1886.

First appointed in 1905.
Reported to the Asylum Visiting Committee (1899-1926) and then the Mental Hospital Committee (1926-1948).

Gas was provided privately in York by the York Gas Light Company and the York Union Gas Light Company who merged to form the York United Gas Light Company in 1844.
See also Parliamentary Committee 1917-1918 re: York Gas Company's Bill

Formed as a merger of the two competing local private gas companies. The Monk Bridge site was extended in 1847 and the Hungate site sold in 1850. The works and supply areas were extended various times by act of Parliament. There was tension between the private company and the Corporation who sought to buy it in 1871 (unsuccessfully) and attempted to block its expansion in Parliament in 1912.
Formed by merger of York Gas Light Company and York Union Gas Light Company in 1844. Changed name to York Gas Company in 1912.

Founded 1836, at a meeting of full council on 8th February 1836 "for managing the property and finances of the Corporation". Before this time the General Committee covered financial matters. The committee name was changed in 1960 to better reflect its wider function.
Function carried out previously within the General Committee. Changed name to Finance and General Purposes Committee in 1960

Originally formed as a special sub-committee to carry out new duties of the Health Committee under the 1919 Housing Acts. It gained wider responsibilites over the course of the twentieth century.
Originally sub-committee of Health Committee.

In the late twentieth century the town clerk became known as the "Town clerk and chief executive" and then just "chief executive".
Developed from medieval office of town clerk into modern chief executive role as formal head of the hierarchical administration.

Appears to have been created for purposes of supporting tourism and publicity.
Functions transferred to or complimented by Library and Publicity Committee (1951-1962)

Formed in January 1837 to compete with the established York Gas Light Company. Its works were operational from October 1837 at Hungate, next to the Foss. The two companies were amalgamated in 1844.
Amalgamated with York Gas Light Company in 1844 to form the York United Gas Light Company.

The inner circle of twelve became known as aldermen by 1399. They were elected for life until the corporation was reformed in 1835..