London Government Act 1899
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| Long title | An Act to make better provision for Local Government in London. |
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| Citation | 62 & 63 Vict. c. 14 |
| Introduced by | Arthur Balfour |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 13 July 1899 |
| Commencement | 1 November 1900 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | London Government Act 1939 |
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Status: Repealed
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The London Government Act 1899 (62 & 63 Vict. c. 14) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed the administration of the capital. The Act divided the County of London into 28 metropolitan boroughs, replacing the 41 parish vestries and District Boards of Works administering the area. The legislation also transferred a few powers from the London County Council to the boroughs, and removed a number of boundary anomalies. The first elections to the new boroughs were held on 1 November 1900.
While an elected London County Council had been created by the Local Government Act 1888, the lower tier of local government still consisted of elective vestries and District boards of works created in 1855 by the Metropolis Management Act. In addition there were a number of areas outside the jurisdiction of any local authority.
In 1893, a Royal Commission on the Unification of London had been established with the purpose of making proposals on the amalgamation of the City of London with the county. In its report in 1894, the Commission recommended increasing the power of the County Council over the vestries and boards, with county councillors becoming ex officio members of the lower authorities, and the LCC gaining powers to frame by-laws to govern them.
In reaction to the report, the vestries sought a strengthening of the second tier of government in the capital. Charters of incorporation as a municipal borough were sought in 1896 - 1897 by Paddington vestry, the parishes of the City of Westminster and in Kensington.
The London Municipal Society had been formed in 1894 to support the pro-Unionist Moderate candidates in London local elections. The stated policy of the Society at the 1897 vestry elections was "conferring on the local authorities of the metropolis municipal dignity and privileges". In July the Society urged the Government to introduce legislation to create municipalities in London.
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