| AdminHistory | Under the Borough Improvement Act of 1851, the Borough Council took over this function when the Markets and Fairs Committee was formed in December 1851. The full functions of the committee not only concerned all matters relating to the regulation, control and management of all markets, fair and wakes held within the borough. The committee's powers were far-reaching, and it had to implement all by-laws and regulations relating to the inspection of slaughterhouses and the 'prevention of exposure for the sale of unwholesome food'. The committee was also expected to manage and control weights and measures and weighing machines (also previously under the control of the Lord of the Manor) and superintend the collection of tolls and dues to the borough. Further, the committee was responsible for its accounts, as well as for the welfare and appointment of all 'officers and servants' employed in connection therewith.
To do this work, the Markets and Fairs Committee was served by several departments, the Weights and Measures Department, the Markets and Fairs Department (Markets Department after June 1965) and the Veterinary and Food Inspection Departments, which later merged to form the Veterinary and Food Inspection Department, though in February 1964, this department was transferred to the Health Committee. Also, the committee liaised closely with the Salvage and Stables Department, as in 1926, all condemned foodstuffs would become the property of the Salvage and Stables Committee and all the Markets Department horses, rolling stock and carters would also be transferred to them. The committee appears to have been disbanded in 1984. |