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118
At a meeting held on February 10th, your Vestry referred
the Report to the Law and Parliamentary Committee, and to the
Works, Sanitary, and General Purposes Committee respectively;
with a view to their advice "as to the best means to be adopted
for carrying out the recommendations." The said Committees,
having carefully considered the Reference, submitted, in April,
a joint report as follows :—
1. WITH RESPECT TO THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.
A communication should be addressed to the Board, calling their attention
to the need for the consolidation of the Metropolis Management and
Buildings Acts, and for certain amendments of, and additions to, the
existing Acts. e.g.:—
The Metropolis Management Act, 1855.
Jntpection of Drains (Sec. 85).—The Vestry should have power to charge the
owner or the occupier of a house with the costs of opening up a drain
for inspection under section 82 when, as the result of such inspection,
the drain is found to be in a defective condition.
Alteration of Drainage (Sec. 7H).—Notice should be given to the Vestry when
it is proposed to alter the drainage of an existing house or building, so
that a system of drainage which has been sanctioned by the Vestry may
not be altered without the consent of the Vestry.
New Buildings.—In respect of the supervision of new buildings, and of all
works appertaining thereto, amendment of the Metropolis Management
and Building Acts is necessary, and such amendment should follow upon
the lines of the Public Health Act, 1875, and amending Acts.
Bye-Laws.—The Vestry should have power to make and alter Bye-laws, with
the sanction of the Metropolitan Board of Works, for carrying out
necessary provisions in regard to the construction and drainage of houses,
etc. Some such machinery as that contained in the Public Health Act,
1875, and amending Acts, is required for adapting the law to the requirements
of the times in respect of such matters.
2. WITH RESPECT TO THE VESTRY.
A special meeting should be called for the purpose of rescinding the resolution
of the Vestry of 19th July, 1882, relating to sanitary surveys of
houses for owners or occupiers.
3. WITH RESPECT TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The Committee should be requested to advise as to the appointment, upon
commission or otherwise, of a person or persons to collect moneys accruing
due, from time to time, for works executed on behalf of owners
or occupiers, or otherwise payable to the Vestry. Probably this duty
could be efficiently carried out by the several rate collectors.