HC Deb 16 November 1944 vol 404 cc2195-6

Lords Amendment: In page 42, line 13, at end, to insert: (d) if he is satisfied that, having regard to the probable ultimate use of all or any part of the land as respects which the notice is to take effect, it is expedient so to do, may direct that as respects the said land or part thereof the authorisation to purchase and notice to treat referred to in the preceding Subsection shall be deemed to have been given and served respectively to and by such county council as may be specified in the direction in lieu of the local planning authority.

2.10 p.m.

Mr. W. S. Morrison

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

The reason for the decision of a local planning authority on an application for permission to carry out development in the case of war-damaged property out of which the obligation of the authorities to purchase arises may be some requirement of a county council. When the war-damaged building is on the line of a proposed new road the county council would not wish the building to be restored. The association of these bodies represented that it would be better that the county council should acquire direct, and this Amendment makes that provision.

Question put, and agreed to.

Subsequent Amendments to page 44, line 1, agreed to. [Special Entry in one case.]

Lords Amendment: In page 44, line 7, at end, insert: (10) A county council may contribute towards the expenses incurred by a local planning authority under this Section, and Section forty-nine of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932 (which provides for the manner in which expenses of county councils under that Act are to be defrayed and confers on county councils power to borrow), except the first proviso thereto, shall apply to expenses incurred by a county council under this Sub-section as it applies to such of their expenses as are mentioned in the said Section forty- nine.

2.12 p.m.

The Solicitor-General

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

This Amendment was made at the request of the County Councils Association and it enables a county council to contribute towards expenses incurred by a local planning authority under the Clause and to borrow money for the purpose. The reasons are the same as the House has already appreciated which have made it necessary to enable a county council to purchase the land in question in some cases. Where the ground of the decision is interim development which makes a contribution necessary for the purposes of the county council, the local planning authority might very often be unwilling to bear the cost. This Amendment meets the difficulty.

Question put, and agreed to. [Special Entry.]

Subsequent Lords Amendments to page 44, line 12, agreed to.