ABSTRACT
The Stevenage Council was a typical small local authority—the ‘best people’ thought little of it, but its members were generally proud of their voluntary work. Under the twelve councillors were the clerk and surveyor (who received from one-quarter to one-half the salary of Chief Officers on the Development Corporation) and, in May 1949, a staff of thirteen office employees plus about twenty-five labourers (engaged on the repair and upkeep of Council houses, the collection of refuse, the maintenance of the water works, roads, playing fields, and sewers).
