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for the registration and inspection of sixteen voluntary homes,
accounting for a total of 731 beds. During the year, one home extended
its number of beds by twenty-two. Three privately run homes were
operating within the borough, one of which closed during the year and
the Certificate was withdrawn. The two homes remaining provide
accommodation for thirty-five people.
Additionally, one home in the borough is registered as a nursing
home, and as there was an agreement between this home and the former
London County Council, that a maximum of eight beds would be held for
Part HI cases, the Council are currently using two of these beds.
At 31st December,I966, there were sixteen voluntary homes providing
753 beds and two privately run homes providing 35 beds.
Care and Protection of Property.
Section 48 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, requires the
Council to undertake responsibility for the care and protection of
movable property of persons admitted to hospital, residential
accommodation or place of safety under an order of the Court where it
appears that there is a danger of loss or damage and where no other
suitable arrangements are being or can be made. It is often necessary
to place movable property in store and, at the beginning of the year
under review, the property of forty persons was in store in disused
bathing accommodation at the Public Baths in Silchester Road.
During the year, 104 cases were dealt with, of which it was
possible to trace the relatives of thirteen and arrange for them to
accept responsibility. Of the balance of ninety-one, it was necessary
to take into store the property of thirty-three cases. In the remaining
fifty-eight instances, the premises were secured. Altogether ninety-nine
cases were satisfactorily resolved, and at 31st December, 1966, the
department had thirty-two cases under surveillance, of which the
property of twenty was held in store.
Burials and Cremations.
Section 50 of the National Assistance Act,1948, imposes on the
Council the duty to arrange for the burial or cremation of the body of
any person who has died, or been found dead, within the borough where
no suitable arrangements have been, or can be, made for disposal.

In addition, twenty-nine burials were arranged for persons
resident in the Council's homes at the time of death, which are
summarised as follows;-