View report page

234
to apply to Houses in Multiple Occupation. Further, for the purpose
of implementing the provisions of Section 15 of the Housing Act,
1961, the Council, on the 14th November, 1962, adopted the standards
of provision of amenities, as suggested in the joint report of
the Advisory Bodies of Town Clerks and Medical Officers of Health
of Metropolitan Borough Councils.
The Health and Welfare Department has always given advice
concerning houses in multiple occupation to anyone requesting
information. Leaflets in printed form giving details of the minimum
requirements for such premises have now been supplied to local
estate agents and are available through various Departments of the
Council for potential house purchasers.
During the year, 41 visits were made by the Housing Inspectors.
In one instance it was found necessary to serve an informal notice
requiring the execution of works under this Act.
Means of Escape from Fire—Section 16—Arising from representations
made in April 1965 to the London Boroughs' Committee
by a constituent member, a Working Party of representatives of that
Committee and Officers of the Greater London Council was set up
to review the existing procedure and code of practice in the Greater
London Area.
The Working Party prepared a revised code of practice containing
some alterations of a technical nature. Briefly these concern
modifications to the requirements in respect of pass doors on top
floors of three-storey houses, staircase lobbies and self-closing doors
to staircases and the protection of gas meters.
On the recommendation of the London Boroughs' Committee
to constituent Councils, this Council agreed to the adoption of the
undermentioned proposals of the Working Party's Report:—
(a) the amendments to the code of practice referred to in the
preceding paragraph;
(b) that where a code of practice is to be applied, consultation with
the Greater London Council would be deemed to have been
carried out and only in the few cases where the code is not to be
applied should consultation be necessary;
(c) the revised code of practice be placed on sale to the public;
(d) a footnote on the Notice to a landlord that should there be
difficulty in obtaining a builder, application should be made to
the Public Health Inspector for the names of suitable builders.
Re-housing
(a) Borough Council—The number of families housed and rehoused
including transfers, casual voids, etc., amounted to 1,594.
Of this number 55 were in respect of families re-housed from outside
the Borough.