TNAG-0201-FCO40-237-Local-government-reforms-1969 — Page 114

Reference.....

Extract from Governor's Speech Legislative Commit 26-269

Om

¡ RECEIVED IN

ARCHIVES No 31

24 MAR 1969

HKK 13/12

in

To turn to another problem.

Hon. Members

are already aware, since I spoke of the matter in this

Comcil in 1963, that I have been concerned to see some

aprovement in our local authority system. Little

ogress was possible in 1937, but in 1980 tentative f

roposals were drawn up and have been under ccasiferat y various interected partics, including the Urban

Council.

As yet no clear consensus of view has emerged

very desirable

but I think it

at least to mako progress on

Lat

those mere minor but still important changes on which cone measure of general agreement can be reached.

institutes

I

·

would, as an example, like to sec A soparation of the Urban Council's finances from those of Government, by meaas of a separate budget approved by this Council, with some provision to enable the. Urban Council to raise and dispose of its own revenues.

Nesirable changes would also, I would hope, prove

Other

possible even if their extent is, at this stage, limited:

but whatever we do, we must

above all see that the

powers of local authorities and their responsibilities

1 A

are co-terminous.

We cannot have the exercise of power

without acceptance of full responsibility.