CLWYD COUNTY COUNCIL (1974-1996) RECORDS

Clwyd County Council Minutes, 1973-1996; Committee Minutes and Agenda; Official Programmes and Brochures, 1973-1996; Reports, Submissions and Memoranda, 1973-1996; Standing Orders and Diaries, 1974-1996; Publicity and Literature, 1948-1992; Photographs, 1966-1995; Tape Recordings, 1973-1995; Grants of Arms, 1972-1996; Miscellaneous, 1973-1996; Registers of Sealed Documents, 1975-1995; Bills, 1984-1985; County Secretary's Department, 1973-1991; Architect's Department, 1915-1985; Chief Executive's Department, 1974-1990; Consumer Protetion Department, 1974-1991; Development and Tourism, 1914-c.1992; Education Department, 1970-1991; Emergency Planning, 1971-1992; Fire Service, 1974-1996; Industrial Development, 1974-1996; Council Information 1973-1981; County Library and Museums Service 1974-1996; North East Wales Institute 1977-1989; Planning and Estates Department 1973-1988; Architecture, Planning and Estates Department c.1974-1995; County Record Office 1974-1993; Highways (Surveyors) Department, 1963-1994; Social Services Department, 1974-1989; County Treasurers Department, 1974-1995; Theatr Clwyd Records, 1969-1999; Estates Department, 1977.

From the late 1950s, Local Government reform in Wales was considered more pressing than in England, due to the small size of many of the existing authorities, especially the upper tier county councils. Between 1958 and 1970 various proposals were announced and consulted upon, with varied area sizes, boundaries and the presence or absence of a tier of district authorities below county level being proposed.

Finally, the Local Government Act 1972 created Clwyd as a merger of Flintshire with most of Denbighshire, along with the Edeyrnion Rural District from Merionethshire. A 1970 white paper had introduced the name of Clwyd by reference to the River Clwyd and the Clwydian range of hills (Clwyd being the only new Welsh county not named after an ancient Welsh kingdom).

Clwyd was divided into six districts, each being operated by a district or borough council: Alyn and Deeside; Colwyn; Delyn; Glyndwr; Rhuddlan and Wrexham Maelor.

Clwyd County Council and its districts were abolished by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, replaced by the four unitary authorities of Flintshire, Wrexham County Borough, Denbighshire, and parts of Conwy (along with some smaller communities moving to Powys). The Act also abolished the County, and states the term "county" would be synonymous with the "principal areas" created by the 1994 Act. However, the Act then created a further set of "preserved counties", which were based on the eight created by the 1972 Act. These Preserved Counties, similar in respect to English Ceremonial counties, would be retained for a variety of purposes including Lieutenancy and Shrievalty.

Clwyd County Council and its six districts ceased operations at midnight on 1 April 1996, and local government was immediately transferred to the new Unitary Authorities. The Preserved County of Clwyd also came into effect as of that date.

Records have been transferred both directly from departments and via the records management section. Some records remain in the latter at present.

Arranged into the following: Clwyd County Council Minutes, Committee Minutes and Agenda, Official Programmes and Brochures, Reports, Submissions and Memoranda, Standing Orders and Diaries, Publicity and Literature, Photographs, Tape Recordings, Grants of Arms, Miscellaneous, Registers of Sealed Documents, Bills, County Secretary's Department, Architect's Department, Chief Executive's Department, Consumer Protetion Department, Development and Tourism, Education Department, Emergency Planning, Fire Service, Industrial Development, Council Information, County Library and Museums Service, North East Wales Institute, Planning and Estates Department, Architecture, Planning and Estates Department, County Record Office, Highways (Surveyors) Department, Social Services Department, County Treasurers Department, Theatr Clwyd Records, and Estates Department.

Access restrictions will apply to any items less than 100 years old that contain personal information.

Please order documents using the alternative reference number (where provided).

A hard copy of the catalogue is available in Flintshire Record Office.

Compiled by Steven Davies of Flintshire Record Office. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Flintshire Record Office, Clwyd County Council Records, catalogue.

Usual Copyright Restrictions Apply. Copyright Flintshire County Council, so copying will usually be possible.

Records appraised on reception from Flintshire County Council; destroyed if historical value deemed insufficient.

Accruals are expected.

FC, Flintshire County Council (pre-1974) and FN, Flintshire County Council (post-1996).