Crown Estate Paving Commission
Encyclopedia
The Crown Estate Paving Commission (or CEPC) is the body responsible for managing certain aspects of the built environment of Regent's Park
, London
. It was established by statute in 1824. It fulfills local government functions, and is one of the few bodies in the United Kingdom (possibly the only one) still empowered to levy rates
on residential property. Although it has government functions and tax-raising powers, its members are not elected but are appointed by the Lords of the Treasury.
It is a separate body from the Crown Estate
, which holds the freehold of Regent's Park.
The Commission's responsibilities include maintaining street lighting and street furniture in the park, maintaining the roadways of certain streets immediately surrounding the park, regulating parking in those streets, collection of domestic refuse and opening and shutting the park gates. The Commission also maintains the terrace gardens adjacent to the public park. It also regulates requested modifications, such as pathways. The public park itself is managed by The Royal Parks
.
The CEPC was established by statute in 1824, when it was given responsibility for care and maintenance of the Crown Estate from Whitehall
along Regent Street
to Regent's Park. Subsequent statutes extended its responsibilities to include the maintenance of Crown Estate properties in Westminster
, but under the Crown Estate Paving Act 1851, the Commission lost responsibility for managing the Regent Street, Whitehall and Westminster properties. It has retained responsibility for the Waterloo gardens in Carlton House Terrace
.
CEPC has statutory authority under the 1851 Act to collect rates from the occupiers of buildings in the streets which it manages numbering about 1200. The rates pay for matters which elsewhere are funded by Council Tax
, but the occupiers are also liable to Council Tax without relief for the CEPC rates assessed on them.
The CEPC has enforced the 1851 act through court actions. In 1944, a Scottish MP was fined for failure to remove signs advertising a club.
The 2010 London Festival of Architecture sought permission from the CEPC to lay a new pathway in the park, as part of the construction of a London Las Ramblas, designed by noted British urban architect Sir Terry Farrell, after the original in Barcelona
. CEPC commissioner Sir John Ritblat was also on the board of the festival.
Regent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It was established by statute in 1824. It fulfills local government functions, and is one of the few bodies in the United Kingdom (possibly the only one) still empowered to levy rates
Rates (tax)
Rates are a type of property tax system in the United Kingdom, and in places with systems deriving from the British one, the proceeds of which are used to fund local government...
on residential property. Although it has government functions and tax-raising powers, its members are not elected but are appointed by the Lords of the Treasury.
It is a separate body from the Crown Estate
Crown Estate
In the United Kingdom, the Crown Estate is a property portfolio owned by the Crown. Although still belonging to the monarch and inherent with the accession of the throne, it is no longer the private property of the reigning monarch and cannot be sold by him/her, nor do the revenues from it belong...
, which holds the freehold of Regent's Park.
The Commission's responsibilities include maintaining street lighting and street furniture in the park, maintaining the roadways of certain streets immediately surrounding the park, regulating parking in those streets, collection of domestic refuse and opening and shutting the park gates. The Commission also maintains the terrace gardens adjacent to the public park. It also regulates requested modifications, such as pathways. The public park itself is managed by The Royal Parks
The Royal Parks
The Royal Parks is an organisation within the UK Government that manages the eight Royal Parks and certain other areas of garden and parkland in London.They are an executive agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.
The CEPC was established by statute in 1824, when it was given responsibility for care and maintenance of the Crown Estate from Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
along Regent Street
Regent Street
Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London's West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations...
to Regent's Park. Subsequent statutes extended its responsibilities to include the maintenance of Crown Estate properties in Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, but under the Crown Estate Paving Act 1851, the Commission lost responsibility for managing the Regent Street, Whitehall and Westminster properties. It has retained responsibility for the Waterloo gardens in Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace refers to a street in the St. James's district of the City of Westminster in London, England, and in particular to two terraces of white stucco-faced houses on the south side of the street overlooking St. James's Park. These terraces were built in 1827–32 to overall designs by...
.
CEPC has statutory authority under the 1851 Act to collect rates from the occupiers of buildings in the streets which it manages numbering about 1200. The rates pay for matters which elsewhere are funded by Council Tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
, but the occupiers are also liable to Council Tax without relief for the CEPC rates assessed on them.
The CEPC has enforced the 1851 act through court actions. In 1944, a Scottish MP was fined for failure to remove signs advertising a club.
The 2010 London Festival of Architecture sought permission from the CEPC to lay a new pathway in the park, as part of the construction of a London Las Ramblas, designed by noted British urban architect Sir Terry Farrell, after the original in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. CEPC commissioner Sir John Ritblat was also on the board of the festival.