View report page

69
26th February, 1890. By Mr. G. J. Chapple —
"That in view of the re-assessment of property to be made in the
present year, which, in many cases, will enable the water
companies to increase their charges without giving any equivalent
to the consumers, and so increase the value of their
monopoly if at any time there should be a purchase of their
interest by the London County Council, it is resolved :—
'That, in the opinion of this Yestry, the operation of Section
68 of the Waterworks Clauses Act of 1847, whereby it is
enacted that the charges for water shall be ' payable
according to the annual value of the tenement supplied
with water,' and of similar provisions in the Acts of the
several Water Companies in the Metropolis, is attended
with grievous injustice to a large section of the consumers
; and that the effect of the Quinquennial
Revision of the Valuation Lists in the Metropolis, under
the Valuation Act of 1869, periodically possesses the
Water Companies, at the expense of the consumers, of
an enormous imearned increment, not contemplated by
the Legislature when the Act of 1847 and the later Acts
on the same lines were passed; and that this Vestry
address a communication to the Local Government
Board, suggesting that Her Majesty's Government
should introduce a short Bill in the present Session of
Parliament to provide that when once the rateable value
of a house or tenement has been assessed, the Water
Companies in the Metropolis shall not be entitled to any
higher rate of charge thereon, unless where an additional
consumption of water follows the increase in the rateable
value ; and to provide also that the public shall be
able to demand a supply by meter at a small quarterly
minimum charge.' "
"That copies of this resolution be sent to the London County
Council, and to all the rating authorities of the Metropolis,
with a suggestion that in the event of the principle of the
resolution being approved, they should also address the Local
Government Board thereon.''
Carried unanimously.
26th February, 1890. By Mr. C. Stone—
"That in the opinion of this Vestry the time has arrived when
the power of Water Companies to make an additional charge
(not for extra water supplied, but in consequence of the
increased valuation of parishes) should end, and the public be
enabled to obtain a supply by meter with a small quarterly
minimum charge and that the clerk be instructed to com-