the Local Board was established in 1864 under the Local Government Act 1858 [21&22 Vict c 98] inheriting the responsibilities of the Paving Commissioners [see OCA2/1]; its jurisdiction was extended beyond the municipal boundary to include developing areas south and east of the city; there was some continuity of membership and function from the Paving Commission as the Board included representatives of the university, corporation and ratepayers; in addition to continuing street improvements the Board's main achievement was the appointment of the first City Engineer, William Henry White, who planned and surpervised the construction of Oxford's first comprehensive sewerage and drainage system; other achievements included the removal of St Peter le Bailey Church [1874], the creation of an isolation hospital at Cold Arbour [1883], widening of Magdalen Bridge [1882] and rebuilding of Oseney Bridge [1889]; the Board was abolished and its powers transferred to the City Council when Oxford became a county borough in 1889; further information can be obtained from the Victoria County History of Oxfordshire volume 4
note on committees: the Board created a sophisticated committee system for implementing environmental improvements which was continued by the City Council after 1889; informal records of [sub]committee meetings were kept; only the Boards minutes were officially signed; initially draft minutes were kept in a single minute book covering all committees [see General Committees draft minutes] but as some committees effectively became standing committees separate minute books were used; the following 2 lists of committees give an indication of the rapid increase in functions of the Local Board [including covering dates of the first minute minute book in which the committee is recorded; asterisks indicate where a committee had its own series of minute books]
long term or standing committees:
Assessment [1864-5]
Bathing Places [1867]
Botley Drainage [1882-4]
Botley Gate [1875-7]
Bylaws* [1864-5]
Cabmans Shelter [1873-5]
Canal Boats [1877-8]
Cattle [Plague] Diseases [Prevention] [1866-7]
Cemetery [1875-7]
Drainage* [1864-5]
Farm* [1880-1885]
Finance* [1864-5]
Fire Engines/Protection from Fire [1869-70]
Gas Company Parliamentary Powers [1868-9]
General Purposes* [1866-7]
Hackney Carriages [1871-3]
Horse [1873-5]
Improvements [1873-5]
Infectious Diseases [1880-2]
Infirmary [1877-8]
Lodging Houses [1880-2]
New Inn Hall Street [1869-70]
Nuisances Removal* [1864-5]
Osney Bridge [1884-6]
Parks Road [1869-70]
Parliamentary [1875-7]
Paving Contract [1867]
Public Library [1867]
St Clements [Toll Gate] Turnpike [1866-7]
[St Giles] Gravel Pits [1867-8]
Street Lighting* [1867-8]
Street Repairing [1867-8]
[Surveyors Department] Officers [1871-3]
[Thames] Floods [1867]
Tramways* [1877-8]
Trill Mill Stream [subcommittee of Nuisance Removal] [1868-9]
Walton Well Railway Bridge [1882]
Water [Works] Supply [1877-8]
adhoc or short term committees:
Botley Road [1867]
Cambridge Street Building [1867-8]
Carting [1884-6]
Cowley Stone Pit [1869-70]
Epidemics [1864-5]
Executive [1882-4]
Expenditure [1884-6]
Gas [1882-4]
Gas [Company Accounts] [1864-5]
Headington Hill [subcommittee of General Purposes] [1884-6]
Heyfields Hut Road [1869-70]
House Refuse [1875-7]
[Little] Clarendon Street Improvement [1871-3]
Luther Street [1867-8]
Marston Drainage [1886-7]
New Hinksey Incorporation [1873-5]
Numbering [subcommittee of General Purposes] [1886-7]
Osney Town Encroachment [1867]
Outlying Districts [1875-7]
[Parliamentary Powers] Consolidation [Powers] [1864-5]
Police Offences [1869-70]
Public Health Bill [1871-3]
Railway Crossing [1871-3]
Rates Apportionment [1867]
Savings Bank Projection [1866-7]
St Ebbes Improvement [1869-70]
St Peter le Bailey Church [1869-70]
Street Naming [1864-5]
Street Offences [1869-70]
Surveyorship [appointment] [1868-9]
Taylor Buildings [1867-8]
Thames Conservancy Parliamentary Powers [1869-70]
Urinal [1873-5]
Valuation [1864-5]
Workshop Regulations Act [1869-70]
Wyatt application [houses in New Inn Hall Street] [1868-9]