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89
Latchmere Estate Extension.
• It was mentioned in my Annual Report for 1920 that the
restrictions as to building on the vacant land on the Latchmere
Estate were, after some difficulty, overcome by the insertion of
a clause in the London County Council (General Powers) Act,
which was passed into law on the 4th August, 1920. After
protracted negotiations with the Ministry of Health, approval
was given on the 29th September, 1921, for the erection of 16
four-roomed and 36 three-roomed tenements, subject to the
following conditions:—
(1) That the cost to rank for subsidy should not exceed
£700 for four-roomed tenements and £600 for
three-roomed tenements.
(2) The Council will keep the necessary costs and exercise
strict supervision (both financial and technical)
over the work, and will otherwise comply with the
requirements of the Ministry of Health.
(3) The Council will be bound by the wages clauses in
the Ministry's form of contract. (Form D88a.)
(4) The Council will observe the conditions contained in the
Ministry's circular (No. 197) regarding the
employment of ex-service men on Housing
schemes.
The work of building these tenements was thereupon put in
hand and is at the moment progressing, but it is not anticipated
that this part of the scheme will be completed until July, 1922.
Savona Street.
A vacant site on the west side of Savona Street was purchased
by the Council, and a plan and lay-out for the erection
of 4 three-roomed tenements was approved. The work of
building these 4 tenements is expected to be completed early in
1922.
Repair of Unfit Houses.
The systematic inspection of insanitary dwelling-houses
was actively proceeded with during 1921. and a very large
number of houses was dealt with (both under the Housing and
the Public Health Acts), the more seriously defective houses
being reported to the Housing Committee for action under the
Housing Act, while the less seriously defective premises were
referred to the Health Committee for action under the nuisance
clauses of the Public Health (London) Act, .1891.
It has not been possible, owing to the housing shortage
during the past 3 years, to put into operation the powers of the
Council under the Housing Acts, relating to the closure of unfit
dwelling-houses, except in very exceptional cases, owing to the