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6
January, 1879, the Vestry Clerk called the attention of the Vestry
to the operation of Clause 4 of the Assessed Rates Act, 1869,
which the Vestry had adopted shortly after the passing of the Act,
by which the owners were compelled to pay the rates for property
of a rateable value of not exceeding £20, upon receiving an allowance
of 30 per cent, upon the amount of such rates; and he pointed
out that in Clerkenwell, where large blocks of model dwellings
are erected, lor which the rents are paid in advance, and on which
the losses from non-payment of rent, and empties, are almost nil,
a readjustment might well be made very favourable to the general
body of ratepayers. The matter was referred to the Assessment
Committee, and the result was that the resolution of the Vestry
adopting the compulsory Clause 4 was rescinded, and the optional
Clause 3 adopted in its stead. Under this Clause 25 per cent,
is now allowed to the general body of owners of small tenements,
on their agreeing to pay "full or empty," and 20 per cent, is
allowed to the owners of the model dwellings. As the operation
of this amendment could not take effect until after Michaelmas,
1879, the effect has only been felt since March 1880, and it has
resulted in a saving of some £400 per annum, £250 more being
fairly obtained from the Companies, which they objected to at
first, but ultimately agreed to, and £150 from the other owners
of small properties.
Tramway Scheme.— The only Scheme before the Vestry
in the past year was the Islington and Holborn Tramways
Scheme, which proposed to commence near the west-end of
Theobalds Road, passing thence along Clerkenwell Road,
and joining the system of the North Metropolitan Tramway
Company at Old Street, also to join the North Metropolitan
system at the Angel, and to run down St. John
Street Road and St. John Street to near Charterhouse
Street. After several interviews between Mr. Chamberlain, the
Solicitor to the Bill and the Committee of Works, the promoters
agreed to pay to the Vestry, before commencing their works, the
sum of £10,000, £7,000 to be the agreed value at 12/- per yard