View report page

142
reckoning as a loan for 60 years, becomes a burden to the ratepayers
(including interest) of £14,000 for the first year, a charge
which will diminish each subsequent year." Of this charge it
would appear that about one-eighth will fall upon the City, oneeightieth
on the parish benefited, one-sixteenth on Kensington.
It would have been more equitable had provision been made in
the Act for a reasonable and proper proportion of the total cost to
be charged to the parish or district specially benefited by the
improvement. After considerable debate the recommendations of
the Committee were adopted by the Council, as follows:—
"(a) That subject to the necessary estimate being submitted to the Council
by the Finance Committee as required by the Statute, the requisite
resolution under section 4 of the Housing of the Working Classes
Act, 1890, be passed by the Council, and that the seal of the Council
be affixed thereto.
"(b) That the draft scheme submitted by the Committee for the improvement
of the area referred to in the said resolution be approved, and
that it be referred to the Committee to complete the scheme, and
to take all the necessary steps for depositing and obtaining confirmation
thereof."
The Chairman of the Committee (Earl Compton) accepted the
following addition to the above recommendations, which was
agreed to by the Council:—
"And that it be an instruction to the Committee to report to the
Council, before proceeding to carry out the scheme, when it is confirmed,
as to what steps will be taken to limit as far as possible, the
amount of compensation to owners of insanitary houses, and also
as to their proposals for a gradual clearance of the area, and for the
rehousing of those displaced by the scheme."
The reference to compensation in this rider needs explanation.
The 21st section of the Act, sub-section (2), already briefly
alluded to, makes special provision for adjusting compensation
payable in respect of any house, &c., as far as practicable, to
real value, evidence being receivable by the arbitrator to prove—
1st.—That the rental of the house or premises was enhanced by reason
of the same being used for illegal purposes, or being so over-crowded
as to be dangerous or injurious to the health of the inmates; or