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96
Improvement Grants
Enquiries from property owners for improvement grants under the Housing
Acts have continued throughout the year and, during the period under review
applications for discretionary grants have been approved inrespect of 39 dwellings
and for standard grants in respect of 98 dwellings.
House improvement grants are dealt with administratively by the Town Clerk,
but the technical aspects are dealt with by the Senior Public Health Inspectors.
This involves surveillance of properties in connection with public health, housing
laws, drainage and water closet byelaw requirements, and the assessment of
costing. 1,557 inspections were carried out in respect of standard and discretionary
grants.
Improvement of Dwellings Not in an Improvement Area
A tenant occupying a dwelling which is not in an improvement area and is
not a tenement block, and which is without one or more of the standard amenities,
may make representation in writing to the local authority with a view to the
exercise by the Local Authority of their power under Section 19 of the Housing
Act 1964. 10 applications for improvements have been received from tenants
and specifications have been prepared by the Senior Public Health Inspectors;
the specifications and Improvement Notices have been served on owners of properties
in respect of these 10 applications.
Legal Proceedings
Three appeals were lodged against the service of Notices under Section 15
and 16, Housing Act 1961, and Section 90 Housing Act 1957, and one appeal
against a Closing Order under Section 16 Housing Act 1957. All these appeals
were dismissed and costs awarded to the Council. Six warrants for entry were
obtained from the County Court under Section 161 Housing Act 1957, and Section
68 Housing Act 1964. It was necessary in one case to obtain the assistance of
the police to gain entry. A number of Court cases are pending for contraventions
under the Housing Acts.