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London County Council who are also required to frame by-laws
for preventing and abating overcrowding and securing the improvement
of the housing conditions, and the subsequent maintenance
of a proper standard of housing conditions. These bylaws
(except those relating to stability of buildings and prevention
of or safety from fire) are to be enforced by the borough council
who are also required to serve and enforce any necessary notices
requiring the execution of works, or the demolition of individual
dwelling houses or the closing of parts of buildings in the area.
Amongst the variations arising from the new Act in the procedure
hitherto adopted is that appeals against notices, orders or
demands now lie to the County Court. This, in my opinion, is a
weakness in the Act. Hitherto such appeals were heard by the
Ministry and so far as this Borough is concerned, no delay has been
experienced in dealing with them. It is to be feared that appeals
to the Law Courts which, according to the public press, are usually
very congested, will result in difficulty and delay owing to the large
volume of work which may be expected in connection with the hearing
of such appeals. The Ministry have for several years heard
appeals and their decisions have been upheld in the highest Court
of the Realm. The Council strove strenuously to secure that appeals
should continue to be made to the Minister of Health, but they
were unsuccessful.
Under Section 31 (3) (a) of the Act the London County Council
is required to carry out such reviews of housing conditions and
submit to the Minister such proposals for the provision of new houses
and such quinquennial statements of measures proposed to be taken,
as are required by this part of the Act, but before preparing any
such proposals or statement the County Council must consult with
the councils of the various metropolitan boroughs, and shall include
in any such statement particulars of any new houses which those
councils propose to provide during the quinquennial period and the
council of every metropolitan borough are required to furnish such
information as may be reasonably required by the County Council
for this purpose. Such information was requested by the County
Council and following an interview by a deputation from the Housing
Committee with the Chairman of the Housing Committee of the
County Council estimated approximate figures relating to the
schemes which might be undertaken during the ensuing five years
were supplied and a survey of the borough is now being carried out
in order that a definite programme can be formulated.
Overcrowding.
It is to be regretted that a considerable amount of local overcrowding
still exists notwithstanding the large number of houses
which have been built by the London County Council and by private
enterprise in London and its environs. Unfortunately, these have
had little effect on the housing difficulties in Battersea. As pointed