View report page

47
Council asked the City and South London Railway Company to
extend their railway from Kennington through Brixton to
Streatham Common. The Company stated in reply that they had
no intention at present of seeking powers to extend the railway in
the direction suggested, the competition of the tramways having
such a serious effect on the traffic that the Directors were discouraged
from embarking on further developments other than
those for which they had Parliamentary powers.
Paving New Streets. 43.—At the end of 1902 and the beginning of 1903 one of the
Council's Sub-Committees came to the conclusion that
the work of paving new streets in the Eastern District
of the Borough had not been satisfactorily carried out and a
Joint Sub-Committee of the New Streets and Highways Committees
was appointed to consider the subject of the duties of the
officers and servants and of the administration of the Surveyor's
Department for that District. The Committee held 7 Meetings,
examined such of the indoor and outdoor officers and servants as
they considered necessary, and decided to recommend that several
of them should be requested to resign. The recommendation was
adopted by the Council. Subsequently the New Streets Committee
reported to the effect that they had had openings made in
certain streets and that some of the work was unsatisfactory.
This report was referred to the consideration of the Joint SubCommittee
and the subject of taking proceedings against the
contractors in respect of defective work was referred to the General
Purposes Committee.
44.—A writ having been issued by the contractors to recover
the balance under their contract an expert was retained by the
Council to examine the work carried out by the contractors and
several roads were opened up and examined by him in the presence
of the Joint Sub-Committee and of the contractors. After
full consideration of the several reports on the subject the General
Purposes Committee recommended the Council to settle the action
commenced by Messrs. Lawrence & Thacker by paying their
account and costs. This recommendation was adopted.