Senators yesterday passed the Municipalities Amendment and Validation Act 1995.

Senator Lynda Milligan-Whyte (UBP) said the legislation was meant to deal with "procedural and structural anomalies'' that existed in the previous act and it would help to clear up the parking problem in the City of Hamilton.

She said the original Act was passed in 1923 and needed updating in light of the changing times.

She said it was unclear whether the $24,000 property holding value for the Corporation of Hamilton or the $12,000 for the Corporation of St. George's was meant to refer to individual properties or the aggregate property values generally.

In the amended legislation all those references have now been removed. All the property that both the Corporation of Hamilton and St. George's had acquired or disposed of would also be validated.

Sen. Milligan-Whyte said the legislation also addressed off-street parking (i.e. in buildings) and it would give either Corporation control of parking and the collection of revenue.

The Corporations also had the ability to arrange for long term financing which meant a significant shift in their role.

Sen. Milligan-Whyte said the Corporation of Hamilton can now develop parking in the City of Hamilton which meant that they would go into debt but they can raise the money by issuing bonds.

This in effect would make the Corporation into a developer she said.

PLP Senator Terry Lister said his party supported the changes being made and it was a positive step forward.

He said both Corporations were well run and since both land values were out of date, their removal was a good move.

Opposition Senate leader Sen. Milton Scott said all persons who lived within the Corporation's areas should be able to go to the meetings.

This he said would bring about full democracy and accountability because it would encourage greater input in the process.

The Act was then passed.