| Administrative History | Originally called Staffordshire Rural Community Council, its inaugural meeting was held on 24 October 1953. According to the first annual report, it had several ex-officio members from various parts of the County Council, from Rodbaston Farm Institute, University College of North Staffordshire, Rural District Councils' Association, Parish Councils Association, and the Bishop; a co-opted member from the National Council of Social Service; and there was a list of many local organisations and societies entitled to appoint representatives to the Council. The National Council of Social Service seems to have been responsible for the setting up of many projects and assistance organisations such as the Citizens' Advice Bureaux. The Community Council from its inception was a local agent of the NCSS which was the national advisory body for village halls, and village halls were a major part of the Community Council's role. These are highlighted in the first annual report along with Parish Councils, rural industries, food production guilds and playing fields.
Its offices were originally in Lloyds Bank Chambers in Market Square, in the 1970s it held meetings in Britannia House in Eastgate Street, then moved to Friars Mill, Friars Terrace, in December 1995, later moving again to The White House, Chapel Street.
The organisation had charitable status from 1954, and later also became a company limited by guarantee. Its function was to provide support and co-ordination for rural communities. It produced a regular news sheet, and also ran the Best Kept Village Competition. It closed in 2018. |