Costs on Local Authorities
266.Local authorities have significant land holdings, including extensive superiority interests. Unfortunately, it is understood that most local authorities do not have records of the full extent of their land holdings. They are also likely to be unaware of their superiority interests, with the exception of council houses which were feued under the right to buy legislation. It is therefore difficult to predict the administrative costs to local authorities resulting from abolition of the feudal system, though it is expected that these can be met from existing resources. Individual local authorities will, for example, have to decide whether they wish to preserve feudal burdens in cases where there is a significant amenity interest. It is likely that most, if not all, local authorities will have already received redemption payments from vassals for feuduties due to a local authority.
267.One area where local authorities will lose income as a result of abolition of the feudal system, is in circumstances where they have sought payment in return for granting consent to variations in feudal conditions.