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Improvement and. repair of individual houses are being
undertaken by the Council under the Housing Act, 1961, which deals
with houses in multiple occupation. The Act provides ideal legislation
for dealing with certain properties in Kensington which,
because of their age and design, are not suitable for conversion
into self-contained flats. However, with additional amenities such
as water closets, baths and hot water, they would provide reasonable
accommodation at reasonable rents.
The Council have decided upon a short term policy of
prestervation of this type of property. A systematic application of
the Housing Act, 1961 has already commenced in parts of the Golborne
Ward. The Council have decided to augment the staff by the appointment
of technical assistants and clerical staff, as and when suitable
office accommodation can be provided.
The results of this work will be watched with interest, and
indeed the Minister of Housing and Local Government has intimated
that he will ask for a report on the experience gained in the next
two years.
Clean Air Act. During the year, the Council's original
programme of the declaration of Smoke Control Areas in the borough
was reviewed at the request of the Minister of Housing and Local
Government. The Council have decided to speed up the programme by
aiming to complete it in 1970 instead of 1973. Progress in this work
was satisfactorily maintained. An additional area, the Norland Ward
No.l area, was made the subject of a Smoke Control Order during the
year. The detailed survey of a second area, the Norland Ward No.2
area, was authorised by the Council and it is anticipated that the
Order will be made in 1963.
The Council's 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.
Food Hygiene. The standard of hygiene in food shops
throughout the borough was generally maintained at a high level.
During the year 1,809 inspections were carried out and it was found
necessary to serve thirteen informal notices. Unfortunately, the
Council's Inspectors still discover flagrant cases of non-observance
of the Food hygiene Regulations and as a result the number of prosecutions
increased compared with the previous year. These legal
proceedings were taken mainly in cases of unsatisfactory conditions
found in restaurants rather than retail food shops. It would appear
that the urgency of the need to prepare meals for consumption on the
premises, detracts from the sense of responsibility to maintain clean
conditions. In some cases the operation of the Licensing Act, 1961
has had an indirect benefit in improving food hygiene in clubs and
restaurants coming within the jurisdiction of this Act. In a number
of cases the Council have been able to secure an improvement of the
sanitary conditions of clubs and restaurants by indicating that
existing conditions would necessitate an objection to the granting
of licences by the Justices.
Hospital Plan. During the year the Council gave consideration
to the Minister of Health's Hospital Plan for England and Wales,
in which he formulated a comprehensive scheme for the re-organisation
of the hospital system during the next fifteen years. The effect of
the proposals in the West London area (particularly Kensington and
Chelsea), received the careful consideration of the Public Health