The Poor Law Guardians, also with wide powers of rating, have remained much as they were, their sphere of work being a definitely limited one.
Various Commissioners, such as the Commissioners of Baths and Washhouses, Library Commissioners, and Burial Boards, have ceased to be; their powers being now exercised by the Borough Councils.
The important changes in the local government of the metropolis have mainly been in the Central Authorities, whose sphere of duties extends over the whole area of London.
The principal Central Authority, the London County Council, which superseded the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1889, instead of being indirectly elected as was that body, is a directly elected body, elected by and representative of the whole electorate of London. Its duties and powers have undergone extension and increase; the latest material addition to them being its appointment as the Education Authority for London.
In 1867, owing to the default of the Vestries and District Boards to make provision of rate-supported hospitals for paupers suffering from infectious or contagious disease, a Central Authority—the Metropolitan Asylums Board—constituted on the indirectly elected system, with considerable powers to spend money which had to be provided out of the rates of the metropolis, was created to do that work.
In 1870 another central body was created, the London School Board, to deal with the elementary education of the children of London, and though not a health authority, its work was closely associated with the public health. It also possessed the widest powers for spending money, which had to be provided out of the rates of the metropolis. It was a directly elected body, but elected on a system peculiar to itself, and one which in great measure removed it from any financial public control.
By an Act of Parliament in 1903 the London County Council was made the Education Authority for London, and the work of the School Board was transferred to it.
To the two existing central authorities was added, in 1903, another wholly gratuitous central local authority, the Metropolitan Water Board, an indirectly elected body with ultimate rating power over the metropolis.