| AdminHistory | Prior to 1874, the district was governed by three authorities: the West Bromwich Union Rural Sanitary Authority dealt with sanitary issues; the Handsworth Highway Board, responsible for repairing the roads; the Lighting Inspectors for the lighting of streets under the Lighting and Watching Act of 1831. In 1874, Handsworth Urban Sanitary Authority was set up for the Handsworth division of the ancient parish of Handsworth and in May 1877, it bought the Wagon & Horses Inn to develop the site for new council offices and a public library. The library opened on 1 May 1880.
The Urban Sanitary Authority appointed a Technical Instruction Committee under the Technical Instruction Acts. Early on it dealt with the question of grants to be made by the County Council under the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise Act) 1890. Premises for a Technical School were found at Thornhill House, teachers were appointed, and the school opened in 1893. There were plans for new school at a site acquired by the Board at the corner of Gold's Hill Road and Stafford Road. The Fire Brigade was established in 1878, with a branch Fire Brigade at Perry Barr from May 1890.
The Urban Sanitary Authority was superseded by the Urban District Council in 1895 and comprised of Handsworth, Sandwell and Soho wards. It took over the combined responsibilities of the Sanitary Authority, Highway Board and Burial Board and in 1903, following the Education Act of 1902, the responsibilities of Handsworth School Board were also transferred to Handsworth Urban District Council. The Urban District Council's duties included controlling and managing housing conditions, highways, street lighting, parks, allotments, open spaces, cemeteries, education, libraries, tramways, the fire brigade, health and sanitary issues, sewerage and building construction. It was incorporated into the city of Birmingham in 1911. |