View report page

56
(c.) That provision be made for the London County Council being empowered,
after conference with the Valuation Authorities, to make
bye-laws, to be approved by the Local Government Board, to secure
uniformity in practice for valuation purposes in the Administrative
County of London.
78. A deputation from this Conference also waited upon the
President of the Local Government Board, who intimated that he was
favourably disposed to consider the suggestions laid before him by the
deputation. The Bill was read a second time on the 20th July last,
and was then withdrawn.
Land Values
(Assessment
and Bating).
79. This Bill provided that all valuation lists on which local rates
were based, should contain separate assessments of the
land values on rateable premises; that the laud value
was to be an amount equal to three per cent. on the selling value of
the land as distinct from the building; that unoccupied premises were
to be subject to rating, but only on the land value; that in cases where
the land value of premises exceeded the rateable value, rates were to
be paid on the land value; that after the Bill became law, the occupiers
should be entitled to deduct from their rent so much of any rate as is
based on the amount of the land value, but that there should be no
interference with existing contracts; and that deductions from the
gross value for the purpose of arriving at the rateable value should be
made on the value of the building only and not on the land value.
The provisions of the Bill were considered by the Council, and the
following resolutions were passed thereon, viz.:—
(1). That to levy rates upon ground values in respect of any
expenditure save capital outlay on improvements permanently increasing
the value of the hereditament would be unjust.
•
(2). That a fair portion of any capital outlay on such improvements
(including instalments of sinking fund of loans in respect of same) might
justly be levied on ground values, saving existing contracts.
(3). That great injustice would result from rating vacant land at a
hypothetical valuation founded on its presumed utility for building
purposes.
(4). That the Council disapproves of the Land Values Assessment
and Rating Bill as it is not in harmony with the foregoing conclusions.
(5). That as site and structure differ so much in character, it is
desirable that they should be separately rated for the purpose of local
taxation.