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Council within the appropriate cost limits. However, Section 95 of
the Housing Act, 1964, gives a local authority, inter alia, discretion
on the payment of grant in respect of such works effected without
prior approval. Thirty-one discretionary grants amounting to
£495 6s. 7d. were so approved, giving a consolidated figure of
962 grants totalling £23,774 3s. 9d.
In cases of financial hardship, a local authority also has discretion
under Section 12(1) of the Clean Air Act, to pay more than 7/10ths
grant. The Council continued its previous policy and paid the full
cost of reasonable and necessary works of conversion or adaptation
in the case of application from occupier/owners who are retirement
pensioners and in receipt of Supplementary Pension. One such
payment was approved in the year and one was also made in
respect of persons in special circumstances. These additional costs
are borne jointly by the local authority and the Government as
provided in Section 95(7) of the Housing Act, 1964, and the
Government contribution in these cases is also 4/7ths of the grant
paid.
The Council, in respect of 137 late applications, authorised the
service of statutory notices under Section 12(2) of the Clean Air
Act, 1956.
Installations
Section 3 of the Clean Air Act requires that new furnaces not
used mainly for domestic purposes and exceeding a capacity of
55,000 B.T.U.s shall, as far as practicable, be smokeless. Any
person installing such a furnace must give prior notice to the
Council and may submit detailed plans and specifications for the
Council's approval before the works of installation commence.
Twenty-eight notifications were received and one approval was
given in 1970.
Chimney Heights
Under Section 6 of the Clean Air Act, 1968, 4 applications were
received and chimney heights approved in 3 instances during 1970.
Pollution Recording
Four atmospheric pollution measuring stations are maintained
by the Council and the daily mean concentrations of smoke and
sulphur dioxide are calculated on readings taken at these stations.
No heavy atmospheric pollution was recorded during the year.
Staff
Within the Borough a Principal Clean Air Inspector and a team
of one Clean Air Inspector and three Technical Assistants are