HC Deb 22 July 1919 vol 118 cc1323-6

  1. "(1) Where the Local Government Board are Satisfied that a town planning scheme ought to be made by a local authority, the Board may by order require the local authority to prepare and submit for their approval such a scheme, and if the scheme is approved by the Board to do all things necessary for enforcing the observance of the scheme or any provisions thereof effectively, and for executing any works which, under the scheme or under Part II. of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, the authority is required to execute.
  2. (2) Any order made by the Local Government Board under this Section shall have the same effect as a resolution of the local authority deciding to prepare a town planning scheme in respect of the area in regard to which the order is made.
  3. (3) If the local authority fail to prepare a scheme to the satisfaction of the Board within such time as may be prescribed by the order, or to enforce the observance of the scheme or any provisions thereof effectively, or to execute any such works as aforesaid, the Board may either authorise the county council to act, or may themselves act, in the place and at the expense of the local authority."

Lords Amendment: In Sub-section (1), after the word "satisfied," insert the words After holding a public local inquiry.

Lords Amendment read a second time.

Dr. ADDISON

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

Mr. T. THOMSON

I should like to have the assurance of the Minister of Health that this will simplify the procedure of the Housing Acts. The old Act has been a great hindrance, and I hope this will simplify it.

Dr. ADDISON

I think this is a fair point which the House ought to surrender. I confess I do not like it, but I think we must act with reason in the matter and give way here.

Mr. THOMSON

I am very sorry.

Question put, and agreed to.

Lords Amendments:

After the word "authority" [" by a local authority "], insert the words as respects any land in regard to which a town planning scheme may be made under the Act of 1909.

—Agreed to.

Leave out the words "Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act," and insert instead thereof the words Act of. —Agreed to

In Sub-section (3), leave out the words either authorise the county council to act, or may. —Agreed to.

After the word "act'' [''or may themselves act"], insert the words or in the case of a borough the population of which is less than 10,000, or of an urban district the population of which is less than 20,000, may, if the Board think fit by order, empower the county council to act.

Lords Amendment read a second time.

Mr. A. WILLIAMS

I have been asked by the Urban District Councils Association to move an Amendment to this Amendment of the Lords. As this Section left the House of Commons it amounted to this, that if the local authority failed to prepare a scheme the Local Government Board might either authorise the county council to act or might themselves act As the Lords have sent it back to us, they have created an inequality between urban district councils and boroughs, and the net effect of their proposal is that the Board may, if they think proper, act themselves, or, in the case of a borough which is less than 10,000, may authorise the county council to act, and, in the case of an urban district, if the district is less than 20,000.There seems no reason why the urban district should be put at a disadvantage as compared with the borough. The urban district has been put on an equality with the borough in Clause 41, and I believe a former President of the Local Government Board —

Dr. ADDISON

I believe the hon. Member wishes to omit the words "the population of which is less than 10,000," and to insert the words "or other." I am quite willing to accept that.

Amendment made to the Lords Amendment: Leave out the words the population of which is less than 10,000, or of an and insert instead thereof the words or other." —[.Mr A Williams.]

Lords Amendment, as amended, agreed to.

SECOND SCHEDULE
Enactment to be amended. Nature of Amendment.
Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1800 (53 & 64 Viet. c. 70):
s. 31(1) Far the words "in any district any four or more householders living in or near to "any street" there shall be substituted the words "any justice of the peace" acting for a district, or any member of the local authority, or any four or more "householders in a district," and the words "in or near that street" shrill be omitted.
s. 38 (2) Before the words "any four or more inhabitant householders of" there shall be inserted the words' any justice of the peace acting for a district, or any member" of the local authority, or "
s. 45(1) After the words 'where the medical officer of health" there shall be inserted the words "inspector of nuisances or other officer of the district authority."
s. 57(3) The words "if not a rural sanitary authority" and the words "and it a rural "sanitary authority with the consent of the county council of the county in "which the land is situate" shall be omitted.
s. 81 The words "or to enter into any contract" shall be omitted.
First Schedule— For the words "The Commissioner of Sewers" there shall be substituted" The "Common Council," and for the words "The sewer rate and the consolidated "rate levied by such Commissioners, or either of such rates, "there shall be substituted the words" The General Rate."

Lords Amendments:

In paragraph dealing with S. 31 (1), leave, out the words or any member of the local authority. —Agreed to.

Insert at end Section 21 (2) Before the word 'house- holders 'there shall be inserted the words justice of the peace. —Agreed to.

In paragraph dealing with S. 38 (2), leave out the words or any member of the local authority, or. —Agreed to.

In paragraph dealing with S. 81, at the; beginning, insert the words The word 'or' shall be inserted before the words 'to make any rate.' The words 'out of their number and. —Agreed to.

At end insert after the words 'provided that a committee as appointed shall 'there shall be inserted the words 'consist as to a majority of its members j of members of the appointing local authority, and shall.' —Agreed to.

In paragraph dealing with First Schedule leave out the word "Commissioner," and insert instead thereof the word Commissioners —Agreed to.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for dig-agreeing to certain of their Amendments to the Bill." — [Dr. Addition.]

Committee nominated of, — Mr. George Thorne, Dr. Addison, Captain Elliot, Mr. Trevelyan Thomson, and Major Ormsby-Gore.

Three to be the quorum.

To withdraw immediately. — [Dr. Addison.]

It being half-past Eleven of the clock, MR. SPEAKER adjourned the House without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.

Adjourned at Half after Eleven o'clock.