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5
Local Government.
The question of maintaining suitable living standards in
tenement houses received special consideration by the Council,
particularly in regard to a group of houses (Powis Terrace) in the
district of North Kensington. The conditions in these properties
were unsatisfactory because of the excessive use of the rooms for
habitation and the mis.use of those parts of the property used in
common by members of more than one family. The relevant sections
(No.36 and 90) of the Housing Act, 1957, which were passed to deal
with this type of property, have proved ineffective. The Council
decided the legislation needed amendment so as to restore those
powers which the Council had under Byelaws for Houses Let in Lodgings,
(which had been repealed by the Housing Acts in 1954). Representations
were made to the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee and
a deputation from this Council was received by the Minister of Housing
and Local Government. It is gratifying to report that the Council's
action has met with almost complete success in so far as the Minister
subsequently promoted a new Housing Bill which, if passed by Parliament,
will restore to a large extent the Council's powers to deal
with tenement houses.
During 1960 there occurred a severe flooding, due to heavy
rainstorms, in certain parts of North Kensington which resulted in
many hundreds of basements being affected by the back flow of sewers
and excessive surface water. An account of this flooding is given
in the body of this report, but it is satisfactory to record that as
a result of the urgent consultations and investigations, by both the
Council and the London County Council, schemes for improving the
sewer system in the borough are now being tackled in an energetic
way. The cost of these schemes will run into millions of pounds,
but it will be money well worth spending if it will prevent a repetition
of the damage, discomfort and distress suffered by many Kensington
residents.
Clean Air Act. The work of fulfilling the fifteen.year
programme laid down by the Council to make the borough "smokeless" was
proceeded with energetically during the year. The Order relating to
the Holland Ward No.3 Smoke Control Area was confirmed by the Minister
of Housing and Local Government on 24th February and came into
operation on 1st October, and the Order relating to the Holland Ward
No.2 Smoke Control Area (against which objections were made by five
ratepayers) was confirmed by the Minister, after a public enquiry
on 22nd July, 1960. This Order will come into operation on
1st October, 1961.
Also during the year the Council made an Order in respect
of the Pembridge Ward No.l Smoke Control Area comprising approximately
110 acres, and containing 2,517 dwellings and 342 other premises.
This Order was confirmed by the Minister on 22nd November, 1960
and will come into operation on 1st October, 1961. The remainder
of the Pembridge Ward is at the moment being surveyed and it is
anticipated that an Order will be made by the Council very shortly.
Thus, the Council's fifteen.year programme is being dealt
with in accordance with the scheduled times. Apart from the five
isolated objections received in respect of the Holland Ward No.2
area, which resulted in a twelve months' delay, the residents of
Kensington, both owners and occupiers, appear to be welcoming the
Council's efforts to reduce atmospheric pollution. The work is
of a detailed nature and necessitates numerous inspections to
ensure that contraventions of the Clean Air Act will not occur,
but generally speaking, the initial difficulties in operating this
legislation have been overcome and there is no reason why the work
should not proceed quickly and smoothly to its finality in 1973•