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struction of the sewer by Messrs. Kinnear, Moodie and Co., amounting to £145,220 upon a fixed
price basis. The preparation of plans, etc., for the erection of the pumping station and the manufacture
of the machinery was pushed forward rapidly with a view to the work being begun early in 1922.
Out-county
drainage.
The annual contribution by the west Ham corporation in respect of the drainage of the borougn
into the Council's system was fixed by an arbitrator in 1904 at 2£d. in £ on the assessable value of'the
borough (excluding government property). This contribution fell far below the cost of the service
rendered and the Council therefore obtained authority in its General Powers Act, 1921, for the Minister
of Health, after considering representations by the Council and others, to increase such payments or to
prescribe the principle upon which such payments are to be determined. Any such order will remain in
force for at least twenty years, and it is open to the Council or the corporation to make further representations
within six months after the expiration of any period of twenty years. In accordance with these
provisions the Council, on 20th December, 1921, decided to ask the Minister of Health to increase the
payments of the corporation.
The question of the reception into the Council's system of sewage from the urban districts of
Leyton and Walthamstow was being considered before the war, but, owing to that event, the matter
was not proceeded with. In January, 1921, the Walthamstow Urban District Council asked that
negotiations might be resumed, but the Council on 14th April, 1921, decided that the question ought
to be considered in relation to the comprehensive enquiry by the Royal Commission on London
Government (see vol. I. of this report). Later, in consequence of complaints as to the polluted condition
of the Lee, the Minister of Health summoned a conference, at which representatives of various riparian
local authorities in the lower Lee valley, of the Lee Conservancy Board and of the London County Council
were present, to discuss the practicability of a combined scheme for the reception into the Council's
system from areas abutting on the lower reaches of the Lee. The conference took place on 4th November,
1921, when it was agreed that the technical experts should prepare a report for consideration by
the authorities concerned.
Local
sewers.
section 69 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1855, provides that no local sewer snall be made
without the approval of the Council. During 1921, the construction or reconstruction of 145,736 feet
of sewers of various sizes has been sanctioned.
Buildings,
etc., over
sewers.
Under section 204 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1855, and section 68 of the Metropolis
Management (Amendment) Act, 1862, no building or any other encroachment may be erected in, over
or under any sewer vested in the Council except with the Council's consent. During 1921 the Council
gave its consent in 12 such cases.
Dwelling
houses on
low lying
lauds.
Part 111. of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1920, takes the place of Prart XI.
of the London Building Act, 1894, and provides that, except with the Council's consent and subject to
such conditions as the Council may require, no building for use, wholly or in part, as a dwelling house
may be erected or re-erected on land, below the level of Trinity high-water mark, which cannot be
efficiently drained at all times by gravitation into an existing sewer of the Council. On 25th January,
1921, the Council made regulations prescribing the procedure to be followed. Consent to the erection
of one house was given during 1921.
Staff.
In view of the increased costs ol the maintenance (including rates and taxes; ol quarters at main
drainage stations the Council, on 11th October, 1921, decided for future occupations to raise the charge
from 3s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. a week, including fuel and light, subject to any variations which might be necessary
under the provisions of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restriction) Act, 1920, and to allow
for the retention of a flat rate for such quarters. The occupation of quarters ceased to be reckoned as
an emolument for the purposes of the Council's superannuation and provident fund.
Powers and
duties of the
Council.
CHAPTER XXVII.
HOUSING.
The powers of the Council with respect to the housing of the working classes are derived from
the Housing Acts, 1890 to 1919. Apart from administrative duties, the main divisions of the work are
(a) the provision of new dwellings to meet the need for additional accommodation, and (b) the improvement
or reconstruction of unhealthy areas, including the provision of dwellings for rehousing the persons
displaced.
Outline of
housing
scheme.
In conformity with section 1 (1) of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919, the Council in
July, 1919, submitted for the approval of the Minister of Health a scheme for the provision of workingclass
dwellings to meet the needs of London and for the improvement of housing conditions therein.
Briefly the scheme* proposed—
(i) the erection under Part III. of the Housing Act of 1890 of 29,000 houses with
accommodation for approximately 145,000 persons,
(ii) the erection of dwellings for 1,960 persons in fulfilment of a rehousing obligation in
respect of the Tabard-street, Grotto-place, and Crosby-row areas (Southwark and Berinondsey).
(iii) the clearance of the Brady-street area, Bethnal Green, under Part II. of the Act.
(iv) immediate action under Parts I. and II. of the Act to facilitate the clearance of other
insanitary areas in the county, provision being made for new accommodation in lieu of that
to be destroyed.
* For details see Annual Report of the Council 1920, Vol. III., p. 124.