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As under the existing discretionary grant system, for
grant to be payable the approval of the authority must be obtained
before work is begun and the work must be done to their
satisfaction (Section 4(l)).
During i960, eight applications for standard grants were
received in respect of individual premises. Of these, seven were
refused as the statutory conditions were not complied with, and
the other application, although approved, was subsequently
withdrawn.
In addition, applications were received from a Housing
Trust in respect of the provision of a wash-hand basin in each
of 44 flats in an estate under their control, and were approved
for the standard grant of £5 in each case.
OVERCROWDING
In view of the shortage of housing accommodation,
created by the war, the Council had up to 1958 operated the
overcrowding provisions of the Housing Acts under a special
scheme. In November, 1958, however, it was decided to deal with
all cases of overcrowding on the strict interpretation of the
standards laid down in the Housing Act, 1957: distinguishing
between "penal" and "non-penal" cases.
A review of all the known cases of overcrowding which
the Public Health Committee had, under their previous scheme,
regarded as less serious was completed during the year and it was
found that in a further 90 cases the overcrowding had been abated,
making a total of 665.
The number of new cases of overcrowding reported to the
Committee during 1960 was 112, giving an equivalent number of
persons of 426. The total number of overcrowding cases which
were recorded during the year as having been abated was 205,
comprising a total of 779.units.
ASSESSMENT OF HOUSING PRIORITIES ON MEDICAL GROUNDS
During the year 156 applications for re-housing on
medical grounds were examined, and recommendations for the award
of additional points were made to the Chief Housing Officer. In
each case the precise medical condition and resultant disability
were determined (frequently necessitating communication with the
family doctor or with the hospital attended). The premises were
inspected in detail to ascertain the extent and nature of the
existing accommodation; the adequacy of day and sleeping space;
the risk of infection; the existence of remediable or irremediable
sanitary or structural defects, and the existence of inconveniences,
such as stairs, which might be prejudicial to the patient.
On this information and that supplied by the Chief
Housing Officer, an assessment of points to be awarded on medical
grounds was made in 155 cases.
PROVISION OF NEW HOUSING ACCOMMODATION
The post-war housing schemes completed in Kensington by
the Council have provided 1,520 flats. The total number of
properties under Council management at the end of 1960 is
summarised in the following table:-