applying the same restriction to appointed Members, and no advantage is seen in limiting in this way the choice of persons eligible for appoint- ment to the Council.
Staff
20. The Urban Council will continue to work through its present executive arm, the Urban Services Department, and the staff of this will continue to be answerable to the Director of Urban Services though the Urban Council should have the right to be consulted about the posting of the most senior departmental staff. This process could be extended later to cover more junior staff. The Urban Council will be required to pay to the Central Government the full cost of providing the Council with staff to carry out its functions including salaries, pensions, medical services, passages, etc.
Finance
21. At present the Urban Council and the Urban Services Depart- ment submit detailed estimates each year to the Colonial Secretariat where they are processed in the same way as those of Government Departments generally. It is now intended to grant the Urban Council substantial financial autonomy and discretion by giving it its own. separate rate or levy, which, initially, will be offset by a corresponding reduction in the present 'general' rate; and by authorizing the Council to borrow in the market, a Government guarantee being provided as necessary, to meet capital expenditure. Such borrowing will be subject to the approval of the Legislative Council. The Council's rate will be calculated initially from estimates of net expenditure in the year pre- ceding the introduction of the new arrangements.
22. The Council will, of course, have other sources of income. Once the initial rate has been determined, the Urban Council will be free to raise its rate, with the Legislative Council's approval, in order to allow it to expand its services or to meet rising costs, assuming that this cannot be done in some other way (for example, by increases in fees for services provided by the Council). The Government will be prepared to consider making annual or capital grants to meet additional expenditure arising from new or exceptional increased statutory duties. imposed on the Council or from requests by the Government that the Council should take on new or increased non-statutory duties.
23. Each year the Urban Council will be required to present its annual Budget and Building and Works Programme to the Colonial
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