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61
Churchyard, they felt that they should contribute a sum towards
the cost which would be incurred in carrying out the proposal to
lay it out as a garden, and also undertake the responsibility for its
future care and maintenance under the Open Spaces Act. The
first steps to be taken in this direction, when the Council was
assured of sufficient support to the project, would be for them to
enter into an agreement with the Vicar of Camberwell for the
transfer to them of the Churchyard and to obtain a faculty from
the Bishop of the Diocese empowering them to carry out the works
required. These, however, were details which would necessarily
receive further consideration by the Council with the plans and
designs for the proposed lay-out of the Garden.
The Council therefore decided that conditionally upon the
balance of the estimated cost of £6,000 being made up by the public
and other voluntary contributions, they would enter into an
Agreement with the Vicar of Camberwell with a view to the conveyance
to them of St. Giles' Parish Churchyard as an Open Space
under the Open Spaces Act, 1906 ; would apply to the Bishop of the
Diocese for the necessary licence or faculty ; and would contribute
the sum of £3,000 towards the cost of carrying out the proposal to lay
out the said Open Space as a Public Garden for the quiet enjoyment
of the people.
The Appeal Fund, however, made no material advance, and
the Council, in January, 1931, received a report that a letter had
been received from the Chief Officer of the London County Council
Parks Department stating that he had prepared a revised scheme
of lay-out on somewhat less expensive lines than those which had
already been submitted, but before they took any further action
they desired to have an opportunity of discussing the plan with
officers of this Council.
The Town Clerk, the Borough Treasurer and Controller and
the Borough Engineer and Surveyor were accordingly requested to
interview the Chief Officer of the Parks Department, and the
appropriate Committee considered their report and received a
copy of the revised lay-out scheme.
Neither the London County Council nor their Parks Committee
had arrived at a definite decision on the matter, and the Finance
Committee of the Council considered the advisability of the acquisition
and future maintenance of the Churchyard being undertaken
by the London County Council and the Borough Council contributing
the sum of £3,000.
The Council therefore decided to ask the London County
Council to undertake the acquisition and maintenance of St. Giles'
Parish Churchyard as an Open Space under the Open Spaces Act,
1906, subject to this Council contributing the sum of £3,000 towards
the cost of acquisition. This resolution was in substitution for
that passed at the meeting of the Council in June.