Understanding A History of Council
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome back. Today, we embark on a journey and let me start by saying:
"I am not anti-authority, nor am I anti-governance. I strongly believe in the foundations laid by our ancestral past. That being said, I believe that council, in my eyes, should stand as a privilege to manage through its people and within its territory. It comes with honourable prestige, but also a heavy price. Those in power should never take it for granted. The concept of democracy starts within the council’s operations it should stand for a service that fosters prosperity for its people." In today’s blog, let’s explore the origins of council, and how it has been shaped across the tides of history.
Going Back In TIme: The Origins Of Council
Going Back In Time: The Origins of Council
Many people may not know that the very first Councils or local government bodies did not begin purely as democratic institutions. In the early stages, especially during the Industrial Revolution (1700s–1800s), many towns and cities developed governing bodies that were heavily influenced or outright controlled by wealthy landowners, merchants, and industrialists. These elites were primarily interested in managing population growth, ensuring labour forces were maintained, and developing urban areas to support economic and commercial interests. Early urban councils often behaved more like corporations than what we imagine today as public service organizations. Their role was to manage infrastructure roads, sewage systems, housing with the primary goal of economic growth, not necessarily citizen welfare. In the early 19th century, many towns and cities in England and Wales operated under municipal corporations established by royal charters. These corporations were often self-selecting bodies, with positions such as mayors, aldermen, and councilmen typically filled by local elites or those tied to commercial interests. This structure led to governance that was frequently unrepresentative and, in many cases, corrupt. To address these injustices, the British Parliament enacted the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835, aiming to reform local government structures across England and Wales. The Act introduced a uniform system of elected town councils, replacing the self-perpetuating corporations with bodies accountable to the residents they served. These reformed councils became responsible for vital areas of local administration, including public health, policing, social care, and infrastructure.
The History of Caerphilly's Governance: A Council Evolution
When digging into the layers of Caerphilly’s history, I discovered that while the 1835 Act brought significant change across Wales Caerphilly’s formal emergence as a municipal entity occurred much later. Historically, Caerphilly was part of the ancient parish of Eglwysilan in Glamorgan. In 1893, a local board was established to provide governance across Eglwysilan and Llanfabon parishes. This board was then reconstituted as the Caerphilly Urban District Council in 1894, managing local affairs until 1974. In 1974, a reorganization of local government led to the creation of the Rhymney Valley District within the new county of Mid Glamorgan, encompassing Caerphilly and its surrounding areas. Further changes in 1996 saw the formation of the Caerphilly County Borough Council, which stands today as the principal local authority for the area.
Here’s a simple timeline:
Pre-1835: Municipal corporations in Wales were often controlled by local elites, lacking broad representation.
1835: The Municipal Corporations Act reformed governance, introducing elected councils.
1893: Caerphilly established a local board for governance.
1894: Transitioned into the Caerphilly Urban District Council.
1974: Became part of the Rhymney Valley District within Mid Glamorgan.
1996: Formation of the Caerphilly County Borough Council & Its Territory.
Concluding Thoughts:
As I conclude this chapter into the history of the council, I realise that through exploring the past, we often uncover more about the present. What I mean by this is: while today's councils are supposed to be democratic elected by the people much of the old mentality still lingers. The corporate mindset remains present in various ways: The outsourcing of services to private contractors, Managing budgets with business-like strategies, Being judged by performance targets rather than the wellbeing of communities. It is true that councils now hold legal duties around social care, housing, planning, and environmental protection. However, the tension between public service and financial management remains a pressing reality. My findings have helped me understand that modern councils are a hybrid system retaining corporate management ideas alongside public service obligations. It is a structure that, in many modern cases, does not always serve community needs first. As we continue to explore council services and their deeper origins, I hope today’s blog has shed some light on the importance of history particularly the history of Wales in understanding the realities we face today. So Ladies and Gentlemen, Let this be our starting point: not an act of defiance, but a shared journey a walk through the living memory of councils in Wales, UK. Until the next time… Take care.
Michael “Druid” Thomas
Lunacare Cymru | Media - Blog
