Municipal Corporations Act 1883

3 Future abolition of corporations, except as provided by new charter or by scheme under 40 41 Vict. c.69

On and after the twenty-fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, or such later day, not after the twenty-ninth day of September one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, as Her Majesty in Council may, in the case of any place or places, appoint, the following provisions shall (subject to the savings for vested interests and other provisions contained in this [40 & 41 Vict. c. 69.] Act) apply to each of the places mentioned in the schedules to this Act to which Her Majesty may not be pleased before the said day to grant a new charter; that is to say,

(a) The place shall not be a corporate town or borough, and any municipal or other corporation thereof existing under any charter or grant or prescription shall be dissolved;

(b) All property of any corporation in the place which is dissolved by this Act, or of any person as member or officer thereof, or of any court or judge whose jurisdiction is abolished by this Act, shall be applied for the public benefit of the inhabitants of the place in such manner as may be for the time being provided by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners, or, in a case where a scheme is made by the Local Government Board, by that scheme, and shall vest in such persons or body corporate as may be specified in such scheme.

(2) Provided that until any such scheme takes effect the said property shall continue to be held, managed, and enjoyed as heretofore in like manner as if a scheme of the Charity Commissioners, in pursuance of this Act, had provided for such holding, management, and enjoyment, and for that purpose the persons managing the property shall continue in like manner as if they were a body constituted by the scheme for the administration of such property, but the legal estate in the property shall vest in the official trustees.