View report page

GENERAL COMMENT
These functions may be described as measures dealing with the safety
and general well being of the community, as well as the prevention of both
exploitation of the public and of the setting up of injurious or immoral
practices within this borough.
The regulations are mainly pre-war, and undoubtedly need revision.
Nevertheless, the principles involved have become more important in many
cases because of the expansion both in number and character of the
organisation which come within the purview of these Acts.
This borough, because of its central position, is one of the three
inner London Boroughs mainly concerned with this work and a close liaison
has been maintained with both the Westminster City Council and the London
Borough of Campden to ensure, as far as possible, uniformity of administration.
HOUSING
In my Annual Report for last year, special reference was made to the
problems associated with improvement and modernisation of older houses, and
to the legislation which existed, and was proposed at that time, to enable
local authorities to extend the useful life of such properties.
Progress with this important work was continued during the year and
on the 25th August 1969 a new Housing Act came into force which amended
and extended the Council's powers for dealing with these problems: These
changes include:
(a) Amendments to the regulations relating to the familiar
improvement (discretionary) grants and standard grants,
including an increase in the amounts of grant, which
can be obtained, together with the introduction of a
new special grant for improving conditions in multioccupied
houses;