The entire procedure under the act is regulated by the local government board. Some of these regulations appear in the fifth schedule, and for the most part are merely formal requirements. But in addition to formal regulations a clause in the act specifically provides that the board by regulation shall secure the co-operation on the part of the local authority with the owners and other persons interested in the land at every stage of the procedure, by means of conferences and such other means as may be subsequently provided. This is just the sort of thing that is being unofficially done in every city of the United States that is making progress in city planning, particularly in connection with the extension of the city plan into undeveloped areas. It is as true in the United States as in England that much of the larger development of the land is dependent on real estate operators, and it is certainly a most sane provision which aims to secure the co-operation.
Ample power is given the board to enforce the execution of the scheme.
In the same way the board decides whether there is any failure or delay in the execution of the scheme, and after its decision the local authority proceeds to execute. In all questions of compensation the local government board again by its power to appoint a single arbitrator, unless the parties agree on some other method, has control of the question whether any property is injuriously affected within the meaning of the act. The clauses relating to compensation are peculiarly interesting, in view of the fact of the recent activity along these lines in some of our cities. The principle of excess condemnation has been carefully presented to the conference, and the opinion of the Massachusetts Supreme Court in relation thereto. The English act cuts the Gordian knot by providing that the local authorities shall be entitled to recover from any person whose property is increased in value by the operation of the scheme one half the amount of that increase.