The administration of Durham County: a comparative assessment 1830 to 1895

Abstract

This thesis represents an attempt to ascertain whether or not there was any increase in efficiency in terms of service provision following the election of the first County Council, compared with when the County was administered by the County Justices. In order to reach any firm conclusions the work necessitated an investigation of how efficiently or otherwise the Justices of the Peace carried out their administrative responsibilities so providing a standard against which the elected County Council could be measured. This involved a review of the major administrative responsibilities of the County Justices. This is followed by a review of how the County Council elected in 1889 carried out its administrative functions, and also includes information on the first election. The major services provided were investigated in some detail and an assessment is then made of how efficiently they carried these functions compared to the County Justices, The next County Council is also investigated as a change in political control occurred following the election of 1892, together with the fact that three years is probably an unrealistic period on which to make an objective judgement. Again the major services provided are reviewed and an assessment made from a comparative point of view, and a conclusion is then made over the whole period.