| AdminHistory | The Birmingham Overseers Committee was formed as a result of the City Extension Act of 1911. By this piece of legislation the City Council became responsible for the appointing of the Overseers to the Poor responsible for administering the poor law, as well as their assistants. The Council appointed a committee of nine members taken from the Finance Committee. The purpose of the committee was to assess the poor rate, organise its collection and seek arrears.
The city was divided into three areas for the purpose of collecting the rates. The North Division covered Aston Manor, Handsworth and Erdington; the Central Division covered the old city; and the South Division covered Kings Norton, Northfield and Yardley. A Rates Department was also set up by the Council with Valuation Officers, Assessment and Levy Officers, Collecting Officers, and General and Audit Staff. Further, the Town Clerk became the Clerk to the Overseers and the City Treasurer became their Treasurer.
The functions of the committee were transferred to the Ratings and Valuation Committee in March 1927 after the passing of the Rating Act of 1925 (see BCC 1/CB). The remnants of the existing Poor Law system was replaced by the Public Assistance Committee after March 1930, under the Local Government Act, 1929 (see BCC 1/CD). |