District Council of Enfield Historical Records 1853 - 1935

The first meeting- of the C ouncil was held on Saturday, July 9th. 185.S, at the office, then situated in King- William Street, Cit}-, and all the members appointed by Proclamation were present. Councillor John Chamberlain was elected the first Chairman, and Mr. W. .'-V. ITughes was appointed Dis trict Clerk. Shortly after this meeting, tenders were called for the making of the .Assessment, and the successful tenderer re ceived £180 for his work. Tt is interesting to note that this amount is more than £100 greater than the amount paid for a new Assessment made in 19.13. The District Councils' .Act a])parently provided that the Annual Rate be adopted by public vote, and a meeting of ratepayers was accordingly held in the Northern Hotel, Enfield. Three amounts were pro])osed and the voting was as follows: In favour of Farthing rate 131 In favour of One Shilling rate 103 In favour of Two .Shilling rate 3 The farthing rate was later accepted by the Council and the -Assessment at the time amounted to appro.x. .£18.000. It is therefore evident that the Council did not have a very substantial revenue in the first }-ear of its existence. That this method of the declaration of the rate was a source of worry tf> the Council, is evident from reports appearing in the records of the activities of the Council during the following year. On April 17th. 1854, a public meeting convened by the Councib was held at the Gepps Cross Hotel, and following a discussion on the Assessment, the capability of the Chair man, and the Annual Rate, the following resolution was carried unanimously: "That until the Chairman tenders his resignation, and a fair and ec|uilable assessment is made, the rate payers pledge themselves that no further rate will be adopted." Immediatel}- following tliis meeting, a special call of the Council was made, and the Council agreed that the rates collected for the current year at 1/- in the £ be refunded, and a checpie for £285 5/- was ]-)asscd for payment. The 20