the whole scheme, and we understood that the object of Sir
Arthur Arnold’s amendment was to assist us in our further
negotiations with the Government and the local authority.
When the chairman of the Committee accepted the amendment
in the Council he stated that the Chancellor of the Exchequer
considered that the Government was not interested in the
extension of the garden, but the chairman expressed his
willingness to accept the amendment which would enable
further negotiations to be opened up with the Government.”
(Improvements Committee Adjourned Report, 13 March 1900,
(emphasis added).
86. On 4 July 1899, the Council approved the proposal for submission to Parliament:
“Resolved – That, subject to the Council being relieved from
widening Abingdon-street, and subject to a contribution by the
local authority of £100,000, the Council do apply to Parliament
in the session of 1900 for powers to embank the Thames from
Victoria-tower-garden to Lambeth-bridge, to widen Millbankstreet to 70 or 80 feet, to acquire and deal with the land
between the river and Millbank-street, and to acquire and deal
with the property between Millbank-street and Tufton-street, in
general accordance with the scheme shown on the plan
approved by the Improvements Committee on 7th June, 1899.”
(London County Council Minutes, 4 July 1899) (emphasis
added)
87. On 12 July 1899, Westminster Vestry agreed to contribute £100,000 on the condition
that the land between Millbank and the river would be converted into a public garden:
“Resolved – That this Vestry, recognising…the Westminster
Improvement Scheme communicated to them by the London
County Council… (3) assent to a contribution of £100,000
towards the Westminster Improvement Scheme of the London
County Council, subject to the understanding:…that the space
on the East of Millbank-street from the Victoria Tower-garden
to Lambeth-bridge be converted into a public garden.”
(Westminster Vestry minutes, 12 July 1899) (emphasis added)
88. On 11 October the Improvements Committee proposed an amended scheme. The new
scheme included a realignment of Millbank so that it was closer to the river. This
made more land available for building and reduced the overall cost of the scheme.
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