Commissioner of Supply
Commissioners of Supply were local administrative bodies in
Creation
The
In 1686 the commissioners took on their first local government functions. In that year an act was passed providing that the repair of highways and bridges should be the responsibility of "the several shires and burghs... within their respective bounds". The sheriff of each shire was given the power to compel the commissioners of supply and justices of the peace to convene and agree funding and allocation of labour for road repairs.[2]
1707–1930
The commissioners continued to exist following the passing of the
In many cases the commissioners appointed special constables for all or parts of their counties, and by the
In 1862, the functions and property of the Commissioners of Highland Roads and Bridges were transferred to the Commissioners of Supply.[4]
In 1890, as a result of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, virtually all of the powers and duties of the commissioners passed to the newly created county councils. The commissioners continued to exist, however, meeting once a year to elect a convener and to appoint members to the Joint Standing Committee that was responsible for the county constabulary. The other members of the committee were nominated by the county council, and it was chaired by the sheriff of the county.
Commissioners of Supply were finally abolished in 1930 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929.
References
- ^ a b c The sheriffdoms listed were Edinburgh (i.e. Midlothian), Hadingtoun (i.e. East Lothian), Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Peebles, Lanerk, Dumfreize, "the sherifdome of Wigtoun and stewartrie of Kirkcudbright", Air, Dumbartan, Bute, Renfrew, Striviling (i.e. Stirlingshire), Linlithgow (i.e. West Lothian), Perth, Kincairdine, Aberdene, Inverness and Ross, Nairne, Cromarty, Argyle, Fyfe and Kinross, Forfar (i.e. Angus), Bamf (i.e. Banff), Sutherland, Caithnes, Elgine (i.e Moray), Orkney and Zetland, Clakmannan. "Act of the convention of estates of the kingdome of Scotland etc. for ane new and voluntar offer to his majestie of seventie two thousand pounds monethlie for the space of twelve moneths". Records of the Parliaments of Scotland. University of St Andrews. 23 January 1667. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
- ^ "Act anent highways and bridges". Records of the Parliaments of Scotland. University of St Andrews. 28 May 1686. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
- ^ Highway (Scotland) Act 1718 (1718 c. 30) and Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1832 (1832 c. 65, section 44)
- ^ Highland Roads and Bridges Act 1862, sections 4 and 5.