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penalty (Maximum fine £5) was small. Although generally this had the desired effect, it does
waste a great deal of the officers' time. Representations were made to the Minister of
Housing and Local Government for the increase in this penalty in the new Housing Bill.
HOUSING ACT 1961, SECTION 15
The number of Informal Notices fell to 204 (307 in 1967) due to the new policy referred
to earlier " Old Houses into New Homes". The number of Formal Notices increased slightly to
128 (112 in 1967) as cases already in the "pipeline" were followed through.
The number of prosecutions (49) for failure to comply with Notices was again high.
SECTION 16
The three additional posts of Fire Inspector, previously authorised, were filled during
the year. This accounts in part for the marked increase in inspections. Notices served and
OGaplied with. A further increase in output can be expected with the benefit of the full
year* s working in respect of these new posts.
SECTION 19
As a result of the new policy referred to under "Old Houses into New Homes" it was hoped
to increase markedly , the number of Direction Orders to some three to four hundred in a full
year. This policy came into effect in the last quarter of the year, during which period 108
recommendations for Direction Orders were made by the Inspectors.
It was agreed with the Town Clerk's Department that my Department should obtain Chairman's
authority and Section 170 information. At the year end 74 sets of case papers had been passed
to the Towi Clerk's Department for the service of Time and Place Notices, i.e. these Notices
specify the time irtien consideration will be given by the appropriate Committee regarding the
making of Direction Orders.
TENEMENT BLOCKS
Reference has been made in my Annual Report for the last two years to the classification
of these blocks into three categories, (1) those which have been brought up to reasonably
modern standard, (2) those which appear capable of and worth being improved to these standards
and (3) those for which the only satisfactory treatment would be demolition (whether or not
imnediately practicable). With reference to the blocks in group 2, which are the particular
responsibility of this Council, progress was made in persuading owners to improve to modern
standards. This approach was preferred to the service of Formal Notices which could result in
the owner serving a Purchase Notice on the Council.
It was found that certain of the blocks in this group, though substantially built, did
not lend themselves readily to a satisfactory conversion either by reason of the dwellings'
layout or because an excessive decant of tenants would be necessary. These blocks, while
lacking the provision of all the desired amenities, do provide living accommodation of a
better standard than that enjoyed by the average tenant in a house in multiple occupation and
few of the tenants interviewed expressed dissatisfaction with their accommodation.
It was proposed, therefore, that this group be divided into sub-categories 2a, those
tenements which it was considered should be improved and 2b, those tenements which, because
of layout, high decant and/or cost of improvement, should not be improved, but which can
provide reasonable accommodation for a period of up to fifteen years.
A full report on this further sub-division and on progress to date was submitted to the
Housing Cbnmittee in October 1968.
With reference to the blocks in group 3 progress has also been made in acquisition, in
rehousing and in clearance as listed below.
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