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leaving the present system of discretionary grants to deal with the
more elaborate proposals.
There are five standard amenities (listed in Section 4(l)
as shown below) eligible for standard grant, which is one half of
the cost shown to have been incurred in executing the works involved,
subject to a maximum payment of £155•
The maximum payment is reduced by the amount shown in
parenthesis in cases where the particular provision is omitted,
as having been already provided:-
(a) A fixed bath or shower in a bathroom (£25)
(b) A wash-hand basin (£5)
(c) A hot water supply (£75)
(d) A water closet for the dwelling (£40)
(e) Satisfactory facilities for storing food (£10)
These amenities must be for the exclusive use of the
occupants of the particular dwelling. The dwelling must after
improvement be equipped with all five standard amenities;
conversely, grant is not payable towards the cost of providing a
second water closet or other amenity if there is already one in the
house. If a hot water supply is provided it must be connected to
a sink as well as to the bath or shower and wash-hand basin
(Section 4(5)).
The works which may qualify for grant are such works for
the improvement of a dwelling as are required to provide it with
such of the standard amenities as it lacks and "improvement" bears
the meaning given to it by Section 42(2) of the Housing (financial
Provisions) Act, 1958. Thus to the direct cost of installing,
say, a bath or wash-hand basin there may be added the cost of any
necessary structural alterations and consequent redecoration; while
in some cases it may be impracticable to do the work without
removing and replacing elsewhere an existing facility such as a
sink or foodstore. The test to be applied in considering whether
expenditure on any particular work is eligible for grant is whether
it would in all the circumstances have been reasonably practicable
to equip the dwelling with the amenities it lacked without carrying
out that work.
No application for a standard grant can be entertained
if the dwelling concerned was provided after the end of 1944, with
one exception. If the dwelling was produced by conversion and
the original building was erected before the end of 1944, then
provided the conversion was completed not later than the end of
1958, the dwelling will be eligible for standard grant purposes
(Section 4(6)).
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(1)).
During 1961, four applications for standard grants were
received in respect of individual premises. Of these, two were
refused as the statutory conditions were not complied with. One
application approved was in respect of all five amenities, and the
grant amounted to £155• The second approved application was for
the provision of a bath and wash-basin (£30).