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139
"Under the Housing of the Working Classes Bill, now before the
House of Commons, the London County Council can only intervene
when they consider that proceedings for a closing order, as respects
a dwelling-house, ought to be instituted, or that an order ought to be
made for the demolition of any dwelling-house as to which a closing
order has been made, or that an order ought to be made for pulling
down an obstructive building, and the Council are of opinion that the
Vestry or District Board have failed to institute, or properly prosecute
proceedings, or to make an order for demolition, or take steps for
pulling down the obstr active building.
"If the proceeding is with regard to obtaining a closing order, the
County Council would have to obtain the order from a Court of Summary
Jurisdiction. As regards the other cases referred to, where an
order has been made by the County Council for the demolition of
buildings, or for pulling down an obstructive building, there would
be an appeal against the order, and consequently in these cases also
the action of the Council will be subject to the control of a Judicial
Court.
"Where a reconstructive scheme is proposed by the County
Council, under Bart 2 of the Bill, the sanction of the Local
Government Board would be necessary, and before approving of any
scheme the Board would direct a local inquiry, at which the Vestry
or District Board would have full opportunity of making any
representations that they might think desirable.
"Having regard to these provisions, the Board cannot concur in
the view of the Vestry, that there should be an appeal to the Board
with regard to the question as to whether or not the Local Authority
have failed in their duty, in any case where the London County
Council may propose, under the powers which it is intended to confer
upon them, that the powers of the Local Authority should become
vested in them,"
The Bills were consolidated into one, much in the state
in which they left the Committee.
No part of the Act, perhaps, is more important, from a practical
point of view, than that which deals with Compensation, the rock
on which previous measures like well-intentioned had split.
Provision, therefore, is made in respect of overcrowded or insanitary
premises comprised in a scheme, with the object of preventing
excessive payment, in cases where the rent is enhanced by reason
of the premises being injuriously overcrowded; in which case
compensation is to be based on a rental that would have been