HC Deb 01 March 1898 vol 54 cc277-8
SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derby, Ilkeston)

I bog to ask the President of the Local Government Board (1) whether Parish Councils are authorised under Section 13, Sub-section 2, of the Local Government Act, 1891, to undertake the repair and maintenance of any public footpaths not being at the side of a public road; (2) and whether the auditors of the Local Government Board are authorised to disallow outlay on the repair and improvement of stiles necessary to maintain such footpaths in a condition for convenient use by the public?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL COYERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, Sleaford

The answer to the first Question is in the affirmative. As to the second, I am advised that the duty of repairing stiles is in general imposed by law on the owner of the fence of which the stile is part. The Board cannot express any general opinion as to the powers of Parish Councils to expend money in the repair or improvement of stiles. Any disallowance made of such expenditure by an auditor would be subject to appeal to the Board, and, in any such case, all the circumstances would have to be considered.