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national policy on which the Government would have to decide.
It is felt that in addition to any legislative change
designed to meet the existing difficulties, there should be
some method introduced to control furnished and unfurnished
sub-tenancies, so that they become proportional in yield to
the gross standard rent. At present, in many instances, the
tenant receives aggregate amounts from sub-letting greatly
in excess of the rent paid to the landlord, who is unable to
afford the high cost of repairing the rapid deterioration which
results from multiple sub-tenancies-often by undesirables."
In view of the urgency of the situation the Council
decided to make representations to the Ministry of Housing and
Local Government. A reply was received from the Ministry
stating that the problem is under consideration but the Minister
is unable to give any Indication as to when he will be able to
introduce the necessary legislation.
Slum clearance. No new slum clearance area was formally
represented during 1952. The rate of clearing areas is
necessarily governed by the amount of rehousing accommodation
available to the Council. Furthermore, the legal formalities
with regard to the nine areas already being dealt with by the
Council have involved a considerable amount of work. However,
during the year, the Council did review their future programme
for slum clearance, and reference to this programme, and to
the progress in dealing with the outstanding slum areas, is
made later in the Report.
Old People. The welfare work in relation to old people
was continued substantially on the same lines as the previous
year. It is unquestionable that this feature of the Council's
health work is proving to be one of the important post-war
developments. Experience has shown the urgent need for this
service. There are many old people living in Kensington whose
lives have been brightened by the services of both the Council
and those voluntary organisations interested in the welfare of
old people. Some of the conditions under which old people
were found to be living (and which have been remedied) were
reminiscent of the dark ages. Old people have been found
living in indescribable conditions of neglect and squalor, and
the value of the work which has been carried out by all parties
to alleviate these conditions is inestimable.
Staff. The Council are reminded that great difficulty
has been experienced in maintaining an adequate staff of
sanitary inspectors. At the time of writing this Report, there
are three vacancies which have been unfilled for many months.
It is a matter of praise that the sanitary inspectors on the
staff have been able to carry on efficiently, and deal with
the more serious problems which have arisen during the year.
The shortage of staff, however, is reflected in the amount of
routine work which can be carried out, and unless special
efforts are made to bring the number of sanitary inspectors
up to establishment, it is inevitable that certain features
of their work cannot be carried out to the high standards
which the Council expect.
VITAL STATISTICS
The table set out on the next two pages gives the
important vital statistics for 1952, together with comparative
figures for the previous seven years.