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39
Discretionary grants are available for a wide range of improvements,
including conversions to self-contained dwellings, to enable houses to be
modernised and brought up to a "twelve point" standard. They are
paid solely at the discretion of the Council, have a maximum of £400
for each dwelling, and are made under the Housing (Financial Provisions)
Act, 1958. This has been extended by the Housing Act, 1964 to £500
per dwelling where a building of three or more stories is converted
into self-contained flats. During the year 81 applications were investigated
and reported on.
Housing work generally
A very useful piece of legislation came into operation during
August, namely the Housing Act 1964. This gives local authorities the
power to compel owners of tenanted dwellings to carry out improvements
where these are necessary. If the local authority are satisfied that any
area in their district contains dwellings lacking in one or more of the
standard amenities and that at least half are so lacking the area may be
defined on a map and declared to be an 'improvement area'. In 1963
such an area was dealt with on a voluntary basis but with poor results.
It was considered that this block of 186 houses, some of which had been
improved, was suitable for the use of the new compulsory powers and a
preliminary survey was carried out. Of the 111 dwellings which were
found to be lacking one or more of the standard amenities, 40 were
tenanted properties.
During the year 81 discretionary grants and 100 standard grant
applications were investigated, the total, as last year, showing an annual
increase of over 20%. Nine of the applications concerned conversions
into two or more self-contained dwellings and will provide an additional
ten units of accommodation. The standard grant which, unlike the
discretionary grant had no fixed minimum cost of work, did have a
maximum possible grant of £155 for the five amenities. Under the
Housing Act 1964 this figure is increased to £700 giving a possible
maximum grant of £350 where the provision of a bathroom necessitates
building an extension or the conversion of outbuildings attached to the
dwelling. Under the Housing Act 1957, action was taken for the demolition
or closure of houses or parts thereof in 23 cases and 16 orders were
made during the year. Two properties subject to closing orders were
made fit for habitation and brought back into use. Repair notices under
Section 9 involved 11 properties one of which was dealt with by the
Council in default. Public inquiries were held in respect of two small
areas of the 1960/65 clearance programme each of which was subsequently
confirmed.