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An attempt was first made by the Council to deal with
Albert Buildings by the service of notices under the provisions
of Section 9 of the Housing Act, 1957, requiring
the premises to be repaired and rendered fit for human
habitation, The owners, however, appealed against these
notices on the grounds that the property was not repairable
at reasonable cost and the Court upheld their appeal. The
Council had no alternative, therefore, but to declare
Albert Buildings, on representation by the Medical Officer
of Health, a Clearance Area.
The Blenheim Grove area was the subject of a public
local enquiry and the Minister decided that the Order be
not confirmed, but that the owners of the premises be allowed
an opportunity of putting them into a state of repair. They
were accordingly notified that the Public Health Committee
would review the matter again in six months. Although some
works were carried out by the owners, they subsequently
informed the Council that the repair of the property was
not an economic proposition and that they intended to
provide alternative accommodation for the occupants and
to demolish the houses themselves,,
The survey for the preparation of the next five-year
slum clearance programme (1961/65) was completed and submitted
to the London County Council. After consultation
between the appropriate officers of the two authorities
it was agreed to deal with 31 areas in Camberwell comprising
houses. At the end of the year negotiations were in
progress to agree as to which areas should be dealt with
by each Council.
Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958
Certificates of unfitness in accordance with the
provisions of this Act were given by the Medical Officer
of in respect of 7 houses owned by the Council and
in addition, 9 groups of properties comprising 20 houses
were represented as unfit and the Council accordingly passed
resolutions that they should be demolished
Overcrowding
Only 42 cases of statutory overcrowding came to the
notice of the Public Health Department during the year,
and certificates in respect of all these cases were forwarded
to the Housing Departments of both the Borough Council and
the London County Council.