Cromarty History Society puts political past – and local democracy – into spotlight
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CROMARTY'S political past was the subject of the latest meeting of the town's history society.
Sandy Thomson, who has delivered many interesting talks to the society, spoke on the subject of “Cromarty Town Council and the end of local democracy”.
Neatly dividing his talk into two sections, the first concerned the way in which Cromarty was run in former times, particularly in the last century.
The second looked more specifically at what the town council was up to during the 1960s and 70s, up to its demise with local government reorganisation in 1975.
Members heard it was probable Cromarty was a Royal Burgh as far back as 11th century, though it was in 1593 when its royal status was confirmed by an Act of Parliament and it was able to trade internationally.
From 1685 it regressed to become a Burgh of Barony – a status granted to the estate landowner by the Crown – and in 1833 it became a Parliamentary Burgh, with an elected council – the beginning of democracy, although elected only by the landowning class. Cromarty had an allowance for nine councillors – to include one provost and two bailies.
In 1890, Ross-shire and Cromarty-shire combined to form Ross and Cromarty County Council.
When Burghs were reclassified in 1930, Cromarty was a Small Burgh and lost many powers to this County Council.
Cromarty Town Council was nevertheless responsible for housing, sewage and roads and the physical infrastructure of the town and its houses.
In 1975, Small Burghs were abolished with a new two tier local government structure later superseded, in 1996, by the unitary Highland Council.
At that point there was a single councillor representing Black Isle North and since 2007 three councillors have represented the whole of the Black Isle.
Sandy posed the idea that local government in Scotland should be localised to a larger extent.
From consulting Cromarty Town Council minute books, Sandy revealed that officers of the Town Council included a Town Clerk, a Master of Works, a Sanitary Inspector, council workmen and a Victoria Hall caretaker and in the 1960s there was a budget of £30,000 – mostly from central government.
He looked at a sample year, 1962, and the recurring subjects – derelict property; proposal for a Rat Week; attempts to get a timetabled Nigg ferry service; complaints about a tenant with 10 cats; purchase of the East Church Hall in order to set up a youth club – then all the subsequent complaints about noisy dances!
There was a significant council house building programme over the years, culminating in the building of Townlands Park; all achieved by the Town Council, despite the County Council wanting to take control.
Sandy covered some other areas of Town Council activity which involved the Cromarty Estate, communications (ferries and roads) and industrial and commercial development. The Town Council saw a future for Cromarty in attracting craft industries – encouraging entrepreneurs with the offer of housing.
A number of current and former local councillors were in the audience and may have recognised many of the themes.
The Cromarty Courthouse Museum made available the Provost’s chain of office for the meeting – it was presented to Cromarty Town Council in 1938 following a fundraising campaign.
The society's next meeting will be a Christmas event on Thursday, December 15 at 7.30pm in the West Church Hall.
The speaker will be Paul Monk and his subject will be “From Pupil to Teacher”.
From January meetings will change nights to the third Tuesday in the month at a new venue – the Victoria Hall, Cromarty.
Visitors are always welcome and further information is available at www.cromartyhistory.scot
