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MEMORANDUM.

This Bill substitutes a system of granting general powers, subject, in certain matters, to specific central regulation and control, to the larger local authorities for the present system of giving them specific powers for particular purposes.

Clause 1 enables the councils of counties, the larger boroughs and urban districts to acquire land, and do everything which a company, acting under the Companies Act, 1908, might lawfully do. Clause 2 specifies the procedure by which the powers set forth in clause 1 may be enacted. Clause 3 deals with borrowing powers and the sanction of the Board of Trade to loans, and compels a council to obtain the consent of Parliament through a Board of Trade Provisional Order when the proposed loan exceeds one quarter of the annual rateable value of the rated property in the council's area.

By clause 4 the Board of Trade may authorise a council to exercise its powers under this Act outside its own area when this is deemed desirable.

Clause 5 enables councils to combine in an undertaking.

By clause 6 a council is restrained from selling or leasing an undertaking for a longer period than seven years, unless it has obtained the sanction of the Board of Trade. By clause 7 smaller district councils and parish councils may exercise powers, but only with the Board of Trade's consent and under conditions to be prescribed by them. Clause 8 requires every council to place the net profits of their undertakings in a common fund, which fund may not be used for the reduction of rates. Nothing in the Bill interferes with the existing powers of councils conferred upon them by public or private statute, Provisional Order, or common

law.

ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES.

Clause.

1. Powers of county and large borough or urban district councils to trade or hold land.

2. Sanction of council to any proposed undertaking. 3. Borrowing powers.

4. Board of Trade to sanction undertakings without the area of the council.

5. Combination of councils for purposes of Act.

6. Disposal of undertaking.

7. Powers of smaller borough or district and parish councils.

8. Profits from land and undertakings to go to the common fund. Common fund not to be used in lieu of rates.

9. Accounts and application of common fund.

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A

BILL

ΤΟ

Extend the Powers of Local Authorities in matters A.D. 1927. of Finance and Municipal Trading.

B

E it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the 5 same, as follows:

borough or

1.-(1) Save as in this Act provided, it shall be Powers of lawful for the council of every county and of every county and borough and urban district, having a population according large to the last published census for the time being of twenty urban 10 thousand or over, including the city of London, and district every metropolitan borough (herein referred to as the councils to council), to establish or purchase or carry on any busi- trade or ness or undertaking within their area having for its hold land. purpose either the acquisition of gain or the promotion 15 of commerce, art, science, recreation, charity, or any other object which might lawfully be established or carried on by a company, limited or unlimited, or association duly incorporated and duly acting under the provisions of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908.

20

(2) Save as in this Act provided, a council may purchase or hold land within their area in such quantities and for such purposes as they think fit.

2. No council shall establish or purchase any land, Sanction of business or undertaking which they would not, save for council to 25 this Act, have been otherwise entitled to establish or purchase, unless it has been decided so to do by a resoÎution of a majority of the members of the council in

any proposed

undertaking.

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