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8
Vestry Hall, Clerkenwell,
October 21st, 1881.
VALUATION METROPOLIS ACT, 1869.
Gentlemen,
I have the honor to report that, pursuant to Resolution
of the Board of the 30th June last, I forwarded to the Assessment
Committee of the Holborn Union the Provisional List then
adopted, submitting certain cases for an alteration of the assessments
since the quinquennial valuation was made, in consequence
of material alteration of rentals consequent upon alterations
of value, as recommended by your Assessment Committee
of the 14th and 15th June last.
That on the 29th August the Assessment Committee met to
revise such list, and heard the Appeals then made.
With regard to the cases submitted for a reduction of the
assessments above referred to, I felt it desirable to submit the
views of the Clerkenwell Vestry in writing, as regards the
wording of Clause 47 of the Act, and the apparent intention of
the Legislature in so framing the Clause.
It will be remembered that, from the time of the Act coming
into operation, cases arose from time to time when your Assessment
Committee thought the Act should have been made to apply
in favor of alterations of assessment under special circumstances,
and that such cases were repeatedly sent to the Holborn Union
with a recommendation that the assessments be modified
according to such special circumstances, but without avail, the
views of the Assessment Committee of the Union not being in
accord with those of the Vestry, they ruling that a structural
alteration only would justify an alteration of an assessment.
On the letter above referred to being read the Union
Assessment Committee referred it to their legal adviser with
instructions to take Counsel's Opinion thereon, considering the
case, as put, to be of a nature calling for further advice; the case,
when drawn up, to be submitted to the other Vestry Clerks of the
Union also for their observations thereon. Counsel's Opinion