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35
By-laws for Houses Let in Lodgings.
During the year six houses were placed on the council's register of houses let in lodgings; none
was removed. The total number on the register at the end of the year was 3,161 and the number
of inspections of these houses during the year was 8,252. (This number is included in the total
inspections for the year given above.)
Outside improvement areas (which are dealt with later), 13 cases of overcrowding were discovered
in houses let in lodgings. Written intimation notices secured an abatement of the overcrowding
in every case but four, in which statutory notices were served and proceedings subsequently taken.
Indecent occupation (persons of the opposite sexes over the age of 12 years not living together
as husband and wife, but sleeping in the same bedroom) was found in 11 cases. These cases were
remedied by the service of intimation notices.
The number of houses cleansed under the by-laws for houses let in lodgings was 700.

From the time the council commenced enforcing the repair of houses by the service of Housing
Act notices up to the 31st December, 1935, they have expended £3,767 16s. 6d., in carrying out
work in default of owners outside improvement areas. Of this sum, £3,517 2s. 6d. has been
recovered, and the outstanding amount of £250 14s., with interest, is being collected in instalments.
In the past thirteen years 1,223 houses have been repaired under Housing Act procedure.
This work involves very close co-operation between the town clerk, the borough engineer
and myself, and the satisfactory results which have been achieved would not have been possible
had it not been for the advice and help which I have received from my colleagues ; I would like
to express my gratitude for the assistance they have given.
Section 19 of the Housing Act, 1930.
Unfit Houses not Repairable at Reasonable Cost.
Apart from improvement area procedure, one demolition order was made during 1934. The
house was eventually repaired by the owner at a cost of approximately £400, and during 1935 the
council agreed to withdraw the demolition order.
Two houses were dealt with in 1935 under Section 19, and in each case the council accepted
undertakings from the owner that the house would not be used for human habitation.
Action was taken by the council under Section 19 in respect of Nos. 9 and 10, Barandon Street.
The freeholders appealed against the demolition orders, but the hearing of the appeal was adjourned
and negotiations are in progress.
Section 20 of the Housing Act, 1930.
Parts of Houses not Repairable at Reasonable Cost.
In 20 houses outside improvement areas 33 underground rooms were closed. In three cases
the owners gave undertakings to make the basements habitable ; the necessary work was carried
out, and the undertakings were subsequently cancelled.
Clearance Areas.
One clearance area, namely, the Talbot Mews area, was well in hand when the council adopted
their five years' programme in May, 1933. This area had on it 25 dwellings holding 170 persons.
The council made a compulsory purchase order, and at the end of 1935 the entire re-building
programme, comprising 64 new flats, had been completed.
There were in the five years' programme, seven clearance areas, comprising 70 houses holding
579 people ; and all are completed or in hand with the exception of the East Mews Road area.
During 1935 the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the public health and housing committees
had a conference with representatives of the county council in regard to an extension of the five
years' programme, and 26 areas were considered as possible clearance areas. Some of these have