SIDCUP URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL AND PREDECESSOR AUTHORITIES

Administrative records

<p>It is important to note that a large part of Sidcup came under the auspices of the Chislehurst Parish Council and subsequently the Chislehurst U.D.C. The surviving records of these bodies are at Bromley Central Library.</p>

• <corpname>Sidcup Urban District Council, 1921-1934</corpname>
• <corpname>Footscray Parochial Sanitary Committee, 1873-1896</corpname>
• <corpname>Footscray Parish Council, 1894-1902</corpname>
• <corpname>Footscray Urban District Council, 1902-1921</corpname>
• <corpname>Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District Council</corpname>

The parish of Footscray formed part of the Bromley Poor Law-Union which was established in 1836. Under the Public Health 1872 the guardians of Unions were established as Rural Authorities. This act allowed the formation of parochial committees and the Footscray Parochial Sanitary Committee first met in March 1873. This Committee had the powers to act as agent for the Bromley Rural Sanitary Authority in Footscray, for the discharge of all duties dischargeable by the Authority but could not incur any expenditure without the permission of the Authority.

Following the Local Government Act of 1894 Rural Sanitary Authorities were superseded by Rural District Councils which had wider powers and Footscray came under the Bromley Rural District Council. The Act allowed for the establishment of parish councils and the Footscray Parish Council was established in December 1894. The Parochial Sanitary Committee continued until 1896 when its powers were assumed by the Parish Council.

In 1902 Footscray was granted Urban Powers and the Parish Council was superseded by the Footscray Urban District Council. The area of the Urban District was much enlarged in 1910 with the transfer of the Lamorbey Ward from the Bexley Urban District. In January 1921 the name of the Council was changed to the Sidcup Urban District Council. This body continued until 1934 when the Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District Council was formed.