City Council of Gibraltar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Council of the City of Gibraltar (or City Council of Gibraltar) was the administrative and governing body of the City of Gibraltar from 1921 until 1969. The Council sat in the City Hall in John Mackintosh Square and was abolished in 1969.
In 1921, the City Council of Gibraltar was established. The Council met for the first time on 24 September 1924 in the City Hall.[1]
The Council had a wide range of functions including, fire prevention, enforcing public health measures, maintaining highways, providing water, electricity, gas and a telephone service, and issuing vehicle licences, driving licences and dog licences. The Governor also had certain controlling powers in relation to the finances of the Council.[2]
Composition
The Council was presided over by a Chairman appointed by the Council which was later renamed in late 1955 to that of 'Mayor'. Joshua Hassan, the Chairman of the Council at the time, became the first Mayor of Gibraltar.[2]
In 1955, the Council consisted of:
- the Chief Medical Officer for Gibraltar, as an ex-officio member,
- Five Councillors appointed by the Governor which had to include one representative for each of the Naval, Military and Air Forces, holding office during the Governor's pleasure (the non-military Councillors held office for a term of three years), and
- Seven elected Councillors, who held office for a term of three years.
Elected Councillors could not be servants of the City Council or Civil Servants.[2]
The Director of Education was an ex-officio Member of the City Council until 1949, when the Director of Labour and Welfare became an ex-officio Member.[3] The Director of Labour and Welfare cease to be an ex-officio Councillor in 1950.[4]
In 1956, the number of Councillors appointed by the Governor reduced to four.[5]