View report page

- 5 -
The Council decided:-
(a) That action be taken under the provisions of the Housing
Act, 1961, relating to houses in multiple occupation in
respect of specified areas. (The systematic application
of this had already commenced in houses in
St. Ervan's Road, and in selected individual houses
elsewhere.)
(b) That representations be made to the Minister of Housing
and Local Government that, in view of the peculiar
problem attaching to tenement property in Kensington,
power should be given to the Council to waive, in
appropriate cases, the requirements of section 4 of
the House Purchase and Housing Act, 1959, that standard
grants are payable only where standard amenities are
provided for the exclusive use of the occupants of a
given dwelling which must on completion have all five
amenities.
(c) That representations also be made to the Minister of
Housing and Local Government that the administrative
and legal procedures associated with action under the
Housing Act, 1961, regarding houses in multiple
occupation be simplified.
(d) That the Town Clerk and the Medical Officer of Health be
authorised to seek an interview with the officials of
the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to support
the Council's representations.
In order to press on with this work the Council decided to
increase the staff in the Town Clerk's department by 2 officers to deal
with service of notices, etc. and the staff of the Public Health department
by 4 inspectors and 3 clerical officers. Owing to the shortage of
office accommodation in the Public Health department it was necessary for
the Council to convert an old coach-house and stables into office
accommodation at a cost of approximately £3,500. The conversion of the
office accommodation was not completed until about October, 1963, and to
this extent there was some delay in progress in implementing the provisions
of the Housing Act, 1961. Further, the enforcement procedure laid
down in the Act, allowing owners of properties sufficient time to carry
out the necessary works, is time consuming.
The Council have specified amenity standards for houses in
multiple occupation.
By the end of the year 300 houses had been inspected, notices
had been prepared and served, and improvement works had been completed
or commenced in over 120 cases. Since then the operation has gained
momentum and the figures to date (May, 1964) are:-
Total number of houses inspected 478
Number where work has been completed 69
Number where work is well in hand 158
In addition to this specialised work which commenced in 1963,
progress was made in dealing with the clearance of slum houses. During
the year four new clearance areas were declared, comprising 135 houses
with an eventual displacement of 979 persons. Three of these areas were
in Kensal New Town which the Council, together with the London County
Council, have planned to redevelop, and the fourth area was in Princedale
Road, which the Council have agreed should be redeveloped by the Rowe
Housing Trust, Ltd.