the metropolitan board of works was abolished by the local government act 1888; and the london county council had been elected on 21 january 1889, to assume its new powers on 1 april. with the mbw a lame duck, its last weeks were its most inglorious period. the lcc were due to assume financial responsibility; and the mbw began to award large pensions to the retiring officers and large salaries to those who would transfer. the mbw then decided to allow the samaritan hospital in marylebone to use an additional 12 feet of pavement, which the lcc opposed. the lcc wrote to the mbw asking it not to take the decision; the mbw did not reply and gave the permission.