WEBB SIDNEY JAMES 1857-1947 BARONPASSFIELD

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Reports, memos etc. by the London County Council , Charles Harrison andothers, concerning the taxation of ground rents.

Administrative / Biographical History

The London County Council (LCC) was created in 1889 as a result of the 1888Local Government Act. The LCC was the first metropolitan-wide form of generallocal government. Elections were held in January 1889 and the ProgressiveParty, won seventy of the 118 seats. The new council met under thechairmanship of the Earl of Rosebery (1847-1929). Members of the ruling groupincluded Sidney Webb (1859-1947), who became chairman of the TechnicalInstruction Committee, Will Crooks (1852-1921), chairman of Public ControlCommittee, John Benn (1850-1922), John Burns (1858-1943) and Ben Tillett(1860-1943). Influenced by the radical members the LCC took a leading role inschool reform and town planning.

Charles Harrison (1835-1897)

Harrison was educated at King's College, London. He was a solicitor to LawFire Insurance Society, and a Director of the Legal and General AssuranceSociety. In 1880 he contested Holborn, and Plymouth in 1892. He became LabourMP for Plymouth in 1895. From 1886 he was a London County Councillor forSouth East Bethnal Green. Harrison was also Vice Chairman of the UnificationCommittee of City with Metropolis, and a member of the Thames Conservancy.Harrison advocated leasehold enfranchisement and taxation of land values, andis regarded as the father of the modern application of betterment by publicimprovements.