Folios 446-451. To: The Local Government Act Office. From: F Francillon, Banbury,...

Folios 446-451.

To: The Local Government Act Office.

From: F Francillon, Banbury, [Oxfordshire].

A letter and two statements. Francillon writes in regard to the Banbury Local Board of Health's desire to have their borrowing powers under the Local Government Act 1858 extended by the Home Secretary so that they might buy the Banbury Water Company's Water Works for £16500.

Francillon's first statement concerns his dispute of the Banbury Board's Clerk's calculation of the rateable value of the Banbury Board's District. Francillon, who claims his valuation is more accurate, is significantly lower than the Clerk's, he states this demonstrates that it is not feasible to allow the Board to borrow such funds as requested as they will have difficulty repaying them.

The second statement concerns document s Francillon has inspected from the Banbury Water Company. He believes these show that they have no right to the water conveyed from their works, which would be in contravention of the regulations regarding Local Board's water works under the Local Government Act 1858. He first details a lease he inspected for the land of a reservoir, set for 1000 years, but on the condition that the works should supply a nearby farm with water gratis. Should the farm not be supplied, this lease would be void, leading Francillon to state that this lease does not represent the absolute property.

The second document Francillon inspected was a lease for the property on which the water works pump sits. Francillon again disputes the legal validity of this lease for the purposes of the Act.

He then relates that the water company sometimes have difficulty drawing water from the River Cherwell. He relates several other documents he saw concerning the Water Company's right to take water and the compensation they own to mill owners, and their rights to lay water pipes. From these documents, Francillon submits that the money the Banbury Board wish to borrow is not for permanent works, and so the Board's requests for a loan are not valid under the Local Government Act 1858.