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10
overcrowding
There has been little change in the extent of overcrowding which still remains acute. No licence;
under section 80 of the Housing Act, 1957, were issued to permit temporary overcrowding (Table 28).
The Housing and Estates Manager has kindly supplied the details of overcrowding in the area,
which have been based mainly on statements of housing applicants (Table 28), and also details of new dwellings
constructed during the year (Table 29).
Notices served under the Public Health Acts, 1936 and 1961, and Housing Acts, 1957 and 1961
There was an appreciable increase in the number of statutory notices served during the year, compared
with 1962 (Table 30), due to the housing survey.
No management orders under section 12, Housing Act, 1961, were served during the year.
Rent Act, 1957
Details of the applications received and the certificates issued up to the end of the year are showr
in Table 33.
Nuisances abated and improvements made
A summary of nuisances abated and improvements made is shown in Table 34.
Inspection of factories, outworkers' premises and food premises
A summary of inspections of the above premises is shown in Table 32.
CLEAN AIR
The Clean Air Act, 1956, came into full operation on the 1st June, 1958. With certain temporary
exemptions the Act prohibits the emission of 'dark smoke' from all chimneys and provides for the establishment
of smoke control areas. Steady progress continues to be made in the establishment of such areas.
The No. 5 (Manor) Smoke Control Area, covering 355 acres with 4,192 dwellings, 105 commercial
and 16 other premises, was confirmed by the Minister of Housing and Local Government in April, and came
into operation on 1st November, 1963. 23 properties in the area which are due to be demolished during
the next few years were exempted from the Order. 114 prefabricated Council dwellings were given exemption
from having means of smokeless ignition and the occupiers allowed to use sticks and paper for lighting
fires. The dwellings which are due to be demolished during the next few years are all fitted with fireplaces
which can burn solid smokeless fuel, but not fitted with gas ignition.

The No. 6 (Kensal Rise) Smoke Control Order, covering 144 acres with 3,496 dwellings, 178 commercial
and 35 other premises, was confirmed by the Council in November and submitted to the Minister
of Housing and Local Government. The proposed date of operation is 1st November, 1964.
In December, 1963, the Minister of Power presented a report to Parliament entitled "Domestic Fuel
Supplies and the Clean Air Policy". This report set out the conclusions of a "comprehensive re-assessment
of the probable availability of the different smokeless fuels in Great Britain during the coming decade or so
and of the probable demand for smokeless fuels in the same period".
As a result of the report the Ministry of Housing and Local Government issued Circular No. 69/63,
on the 17th December, setting out certain changes desirable in the introduction of further smoke control
areas. In the past gas coke has been the fuel mainly used to replace coal in smoke control areas, but due
to technological changes in the gas industry less gas coke will be available, and the introduction of further
areas will depend more on the use of hard coke, gas, oil, and 'off-peak' electricity. To encourage the installation
of appliances which use these fuels, higher grants can now be paid towards the installation of
openable stoves, under-floor draught open fires, or fixed gas, electric storage, or oil heaters.
The volumetric analysis of sulphur dioxide in the air has continued at the Public Health Department.
The results were sent to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research each month. Unfortunately
a similar analysis at the Willesden County Grammar School had to be discontinued at the end of July because
of impending building operations and the demolition of the laboratory where the apparatus was housed.
When the new science block is complete it may be possible to continue measurements.