NRS-16318 | Minute books [Cowra Municipal Council/Cowra Shire Council]

These minute books were initially created under s. 102 and s. 107 of the Municipalities Act 1867 (1) and subsequent legislation. These sections of the Act specified that the council meet once a month for a general meeting, and required that the minutes of the proceedings be taken and maintained by the council clerk.This series contains minutes of the ordinary and special meetings of the Cowra Municipal Council. The Minutes were created at least monthly and recorded chronologically as minute books. The general meetings record inward and outward correspondence received by the Council, motions put to the Council, reports and recommendations of committees and other relevant items of business. The minutes document the variety of activities for which the Council was responsible including financial management, enforcement of regulations, assessment and collection of rates, valuation of properties, building and maintenance of council property, community services and town planning. Special Meetings were called to discuss a specific issue. Reports were generally also tabled at these meetings as well as at the ordinary meeting relating to the subject.There are several books of Committee Recommendations which were prepared for discussion and approval at the ordinary meetings of Council. These Committees include the Finance, Works, Building, Library, Gas, Street Numbering, Local Development and Pensioners Rates Committees.Most of the minutes were handwritten prior to 1925. After this date the minutes are typescript or word-processed. The volumes are not indexed. There is a separate name index covering the period 1936-1938.