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43
The increasing interest in improving grants noted in 1959 continued
during 1960 and the number of applications showed a gain of
almost 50% by the end of the year. This was mainly due to a larger
request for Standard Grants, the total of which more than doubled.
An advantage of this form of improvement grant is that it enables the
owner of a house which ha3 some of the necessary amenities to obtain
assistance in providing the remainder, however small the cost, whereas
the discretionary grant stipulates that the work shall cost at least £100.
Unfortunately the standard is lower than could be desired, in that an
external water closet is accepted provided it is contiguous to the house,
but it is to be hoped that this will be rectified in the future.
Both forms of grant require that any repairs that are necessary
to make the house fit shall be carried out, the requirements being more
stringent in the case of discretionary grants, and therefore, as the number
of applications increases so will the general standard of housing
in the borough improve.
The last group of houses in the Council's clearance area programme
for 1956/60 had been represented at the end of 1959. An
additional group of three houses was represented during 1960 and confirmation
of the Clearance Orders made in each case was received
from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
Consideration was given during the year to the clearance programme
for 196l/65 and a large number of houses which were thought
to be of a suitable type were inspected. From these a combined programme
part of which will be dealt with by the London County
Council was evolved. It is becoming increasingly difficult, in this
borough, to find the type of house which is obviously worn out and beyond
repair as was the case about ten years or more ago. One can
visualise that, as the general standard improves so will sights be set
higher and houses which get by as borderline now will be considered
to be well below standard.
The year saw the resumption on a small scale of house-to-house
inspection. This operation is of value in maintaining a reasonable
standard of repair in the houses concerned and brings to notice defects
which might not otherwise be brought to the attention of the
health department.