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47
it is extremely doubtful whether any Points Scheme could fairly
deal with them. The numbers of elderly persons registered, however,
has never exceeded 200 so that it is possible to consider these cases
individually on their merits quite apart from the Scheme.
Table 'A' in the Appendix to this Report gives the numbers of
applicants in the various points ranges as at 31st December, 1949.
It will be noted that the total number on the register at that date
was 3,880.
Lettings.—For the greater part of 1949 no new properties were
becoming available, and it was not until November that the first
block of flats at Mascalls Court were ready for allocation. The only
lettings, therefore, that could be effected apart from this were in
respect of casual voids and a total of 129 families were rehoused from
the waiting list during the year. Of these 107 were accommodated
in requisitioned properties and 22 Council owned permanent dwellings
and E.F.M. bungalows.
By far the heaviest demand for accommodation came from those
families whose minimum requirements were two bedrooms, whilst
the greatest proportion of accommodation on the Council's estates
contained three bedrooms. Consideration of this led to reconsideration
of the earlier policy of allocation whereby a family comprising
husband and wife and two children of the same sex were allocated
two bedroomed accommodation, and in February it was decided that
families with two children, even though they be of the same sex,
should be considered for three bedroomed accommodation so as to
ease the demand on the limited supply of two bedroomed units.
Reference to Table 'B' in the Appendix will show that of the
lettings effected to applicants under Category 2, only 4% went to
those in Category 2 (a) (i.e. active tuberculosis patients), whereas
the Points Scheme provides for an allocation of 20% to such applicants.
This is partly due to the fact that only approximately 0.5%
of the registered housing applicants came within this category and
partly to the fact that so few of the vacancies have been really
suitable for these families. After consultation with the Medical
Officer of Health, I do not propose to advise the Committee that any
alteration should, however, be made at the present time in the
percentage of allocations of Category 2 lettings. It will be noted
that lettings under Category 2(c) (that is, transfer to enable release
of requisitioned properties to owners), has been kept exactly to the
prescribed percentage (i.e. 10%).
In September an important decision was made relating to the
letting of properties on the Council's permanent estates as distinct
from temporary bungalows and requisitioned properties. The