Local Government Act 1888

61 Appointment of Commissioners.

(1) For the purposes of this Act the Right Honourable Edward Henry, Earl of Derby, the Right Honourable George John Shaw Lefevre, John Lloyd Wharton, Esquire, Francis Mowatt, Esquire, C.B., and Joseph J. Henley, Esquire, shall be appointed Commissioners.

(2) If a vacancy occurs in the office of any of the Commissioners by reason of death, resignation, incapacity, or otherwise, it shall be lawful for Her Majesty the Queen, under Her Royal Sign Manual, to appoint some other, person to fill the vacancy, and so from time to time as often as occasion requires.

(3) The Commissioners may from time to time, with the assent of the Treasury as to number, appoint or employ such number of officers and persons as they may think, necessary for the purpose of the execution of their duties under this Act, and may remove any officer or person so appointed or employed.

(4) There shall be paid to any officer or person appointed or employed under this section, such salaries or other remuneration as the Treasury may assign, and that remuneration and all expenses of the Commissioners, incurred with the sanction of the Treasury in the execution of this Act, shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament.

(5) On holding any inquiry for the purposes of this Act, any Commissioner or officer of the Commissioners shall have the same powers as an inspector of the Local Government Board has on holding a local inquiry under the [38 & 39 Vict. c. 55.] Public Health Act, 1875.

(6) There shall be paid to the Commissioners by the councils of the counties and county boroughs whose financial relations are adjusted by the Commissioners in pursuance of this Act, such amounts as the Treasury may fix as necessary for the payment of the costs of such adjustment, including a proper share of the salaries and remuneration of the officers and persons appointed or employed by such Commissioners, and such amounts shall be paid into the Exchequer, and the amount so paid shall be included as part of the adjustment.

(7) The authority of the Commissioners shall extend to the settlement and the determination by them, on such terms and in such manner as they, in their absolute discretion, think most just and fit, of the matters referred to them, and also of all such matters and questions as are, in their judgment, incident thereto or consequent thereon, to the end that their award or awards may effect a final settlement, and until a final settlement is made the authority of the Commissioners shall extend to determine the proportions, in which payments are to be made to the councils of counties and county boroughs out of the Local Taxation Account, and all payments so made shall be taken into account in the making of the adjustment.

(8) Every award, order, and other instrument made by or proceeding from the Commissioners, shall be binding and conclusive to and for all intents and purposes, and shall have the like effect as if it had been made by a judge of the High Court of Justice in England, and shall be acted on, obeyed, executed, and enforced by all sheriffs and other officers and persons accordingly. No such award, order, or other instrument shall be removable by any writ or process into any of Her Majesty's Courts, and the Commissioners proceedings or acts shall not be liable to be interfered with or questioned by or in any court, or elsewhere, by way of mandamus, prohibition, injunction, or otherwise.

(9) The costs of and attending the inquiry and award shall be borne and paid by the parties out of the fund or rate applicable to their general expenses, in such proportions as the Commissioners may direct, and the Commissioners may order the taxation of any costs in such manner as they may see fit.

(10) The powers . of the Commissioners shall, unless continued by Parliament, cease on the last day of December one thousand eight hundred and ninety.