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21
Section 9 cannot be used for properties in a slum
clearance area for here it is the Council's contention that
the work cannot be done at reasonable cost and it is also
obviously unwise to use this procedure in areas that the
Council is intending to acquire either compulsorily or by
agreement for the purposes of redevelopment.
There has recently been some clarification of the
Council's programme on redevelopnent and it is intended that
where the position is now clear, there will be an increased
use of Section 9 procedure to make premises fit.
A number of inspections are also carried out in
respect of applicants for rehousing. Housing applications
are sent to the Public Health Department and the premises are
inspected not only to ascertain the condition of the premises,
but also to record the number of rooms occupied by the
applicant, the sex and ages of the members of the family,
the permitted number of occupants for the accommodation, the
conditions under which the family is living and any medical
conditions which might be improved by rehousing. During the
year, 640 such visits were made and reports submitted to the
Housing Department. "points" being awarded in 228 cases.
The pointing is done by the Housing Manager and
recommendations from the Public Health Department are confined
to those made on medical grounds only. In all but very
exceptional cases medical points are not recommended unless
the application is supported by a certificate from a general
medical practitioner. I would like to acknowledge the help
given me by the medical practitioners of Hampstead in arriving
at a fair estimate of the benefit which an applicant could
derive from rehousing.
In addition to the above visits and reports, a
further 64 cases were investigated but were found to have
obtained other accommodation without the help of the Borough
Council, and a further 9 reports on applications were submitted
to the London County Council and 6 to other boroughs.