View report page

53
On housing work generally, Mr. Brittain, the group housing
inspector states:
"A number of houses in multiple occupation were dealt with under
the Housing Act 1961, mainly for the provision of required amenities
and to control the total number of persons using the respective houses.
In only one case was it necessary to take action under Section 12,
which gives power to apply a code of management and is designed to
deal with really squalid conditions.
A start was made on that part of the 1961/65 slum clearance programme
to be carried out by this Council and 6 small areas involving
16 houses were represented as unfit for habitation. It was necessary also
to make a number of closing orders but, on the other hand, a greater
number of dwellings already subject to such orders were repaired and
brought back into use.
Improvement grants showed a very small increase in total over
the previous year and the scheme is progressing far too slowly. When
visiting houses to give advice, it has been evident to me that some
owners have realised only quite recently that these grants are available
and it is probable that many others are still ignorant of the financial
assistance which can be obtained. In August the Ministry of Housing
and Local Government issued a Circular asking local authorities to
make a systematic approach to the subject and tackle the problem
by streets or areas. It was decided to deal with an area consisting of 186
houses, of which about 30 are known to have the necessary amenities
and it is hoped that owners of the remainder will take advantage of the
grant aid. The Circular contains a sting in the tail : it mentions the
possibility of using compulsory powers where owners, whose houses
are perfectly capable of being improved at reasonable cost, are unwilling
to co-operate."