North Riding County Council (NRCC) was the county council of the administrative county of the North Riding of Yorkshire. It came into its powers on 1 April 1889 and was abolished on 31 March 1974. The council met at County Hall in Northallerton. It was largely replaced by North Yorkshire County Council, administering a slightly different area, with some responsibilities being transferred to the following district authorities: Selby, Harrogate, Craven, Richmondshire, Hambleton, Ryedale and Scarborough.

The County Council met four times per year to consider reports and authorise plans suggested by its committees. From 1889, it comprised 60 councillors elected by the public in 60 divisions; by 1968 there were 69 divisions, and after the creation that year of the County Borough of Teesside - which removed control of the conurbation from the county council – until 1974, there were 54 divisions electing a councillor each.

NRCC employed Walter Brierley as its Chief Architect from 1901 to 1923, who designed the County Hall (1906) and many North Riding schools and police stations.

Political control The county council consisted of elected councillors and co-opted county aldermen. The entire body of county councillors was elected every three years. Aldermen were additional members, there being a ratio of one alderman to three councillors. Aldermen had a six-year term of office, and one half of their number were elected by the councillors immediately after the triennial elections. This was the same in all county councils at this time, as defined by the Local Government Act 1888.

Election Party in control 1889 Conservative 1892 1895 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1946 1949 1952 1955 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970

Chairmen

The Chairman was the formal head of the council, though significant power was exercised through committees. The Chairman was elected annually by the council from the members or aldermen and presided over meetings.

Chairman From To John Dundas 1889 1892 George Lascelles 1892 1895 John Hutton 1895 1915 Henry Beresford-Peirse 1915 1926 Robert Bell Turton 1926 1938 William Fry Whitwell 1938 1942 Benjamin Davies 1942 1956 William Robinson Burrill-Robinson 1956 1960 James Fletcher 1960 1974

Divisions and councillors The following were all elected members or aldermen of the county council:

References