Garden Square Legislation

Kensington Improvement Act 1851

The 1851 Act applies to garden squares within the parish St Mary Abbots, Kensington. In relation to garden squares covered by its provisions, the 1851 Act provides:

  • those liable to pay Council Tax in respect of any dwelling surrounding the square and who have been resident for at least a year, are members of the garden committee
  • the garden committee can appoint a sub-committee
  • the garden committee or sub-committee is exclusively responsible for the care, management and regulation of the garden
  • procedures for the calling and conduct of meetings of the garden committee and sub-committee
  • the garden committee must elect a chairman who has a casting vote
  • the garden committee and any sub-committee have the power to make byelaws for the proper management of the garden
  • at an annual meeting, the garden committee may determine the amount of money, to be raised via an annual levy as part of the Council Tax, which is necessary to maintain and keep the garden in order; accounts of the previous year's expenditure must be produced at this meeting
  • those people who have the right to use the square

See here for a copy of sections 3-5 and 41-53 (inclusive) of the Kensington Improvement Act 1851.

Town Gardens Protection Act 1863

The Town Gardens Protection Act 1863 applies throughout the Royal Borough.  

The 1863 Act is far less detailed than the 1851 Act, however, in relation to garden squares covered by its provisions the 1863 Act provides that:

  • the residents of the dwellings surrounding the garden elect a garden committee annually
  • the garden committee must consist of not more than nine nor fewer than three of the inhabitants of the dwellings surrounding the square who are liable to pay Council Tax
  • the garden committee may, at an annual meeting, determine the amount required for the maintenance or management of the garden to be raised via an annual levy as part of the Council Tax
  • the garden committee has the power to make byelaws for the management and protection of the garden

See here for a copy of the Town Gardens Protection Act 1863

 

Last updated: 29 November 2019