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75
It is beyond dispute that the Council's ownership and management of a number of houses and
tenements in the Notting Dale area during the present century has helped in the social improvements
which have taken place in that district, but the Public Health Committee recognise that
there are many objections to the local authority of any area becoming property owners on a large
scale and they have not felt disposed to acquire neglected and dilapidated houses except in cases
where the dwellings could not be placed in good ownership by any other plan.
A number of houses in a bad state of repair as a result of mismanagement and neglect came to
the notice of the Committee in 1923, and in some of these, where experience has shown that there
were no prospects of the owners making any serious attempt to improve conditions, the houses
were brought to the notice of the Improved Tenements Association, Limited, or the Wilsham
Housing Trust, with a suggestion that the question of purchase might be considered.
The Improved Tenements Association, Limited, are a small company established in 1900 for
the acquisition of house property—freehold and leasehold—in certain poorer parts of the Borough
with the object of providing better housing of the working classes by:—
(a) not allowing over-crowding in the houses purchased, and
(b) keeping the houses in good sanitary and structural repair.
The Directors, Secretary and Treasurer give their services without remuneration. An average
dividend of 3 per cent, has been paid since the inauguration of the Association.
Prior to 1923, the properties bought and placed under improved management were:—
17 Freehold Houses in Princes Road, 1 Leasehold House in Silchester Terrace,
4 „ „ in Walmer Road, 4 „ Houses in Mersey Street,
3 Leasehold „ in „ „ and 2 „ „ in Wilsham Street.
31 houses in all.
The Association have expressed their desire to acquire more property in poorer parts of the
Borough, and thus to take an active part in raising the standard of living in districts where the
conditions are not satisfactory. Their purchases in 1923 included three derelict houses in
Southam Street, two groups of houses in Sirdar Road, and a corner block of five houses at the
junction of Bangor Street and Sirdar Road, and they have recently decided to acquire a further
twelve houses in the Notting Dale area.
The Wilsham Housing Trust, an organisation established to carry on the excellent work
performed by Dr. Schuster in the Notting Dale area, have, in addition to making other housing
improvements, bought four houses brought to their notice by the Council.
These purchases, which will secure considerable improvement in the housing conditions in the
districts in which the properties are situated, have solved housing difficulties which confronted the
Council.
The purchases by the Council, to which reference is made in the notes under Resolution "K,"
were not decided upon until both the organisations above mentioned had indicated that they were
not prepared to acquire the properties.
It will be seen that the co-operation sanctioned in the Resolution has been satisfactory in that a
considerable amount of very poor class property, much of which was under very bad management,
has been placed under satisfactory ownership without the Council being called upon to incur a
heavy capital expenditure.
RESOLUTION " N."—That.any properties coming into the possession or care of the Council
as a result of action taken by them under any of these recommendations
be managed on the " Octavia Hill " system.
All properties purchased by the Improved Tenements Association, Limited, and the Wilsham
Housing Trust are placed under the "Octavia Hill" system, and very satisfactory improvements
have resulted in the cleanliness and tidiness of the houses.
No special arrangements have been as yet made by the Council for the management of the
houses which they have recently decided to acquire.
RESOLUTION " O."—That, with a view to obviating any avoidable delay in the service of
statutory notices, particulars of any such notices of an urgent nature
be submitted to the Public Health Committee fortnightly.
With the exception of the usual vacations and on one or two other occasions, the Public
Health Committee have met fortnightly throughout the year, and they have established a Public
Health (Defective Houses) Sub-Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Councillor BrookeLittle
for the purpose of dealing with many housing questions which have called for detailed
consideration.