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On no occasion was admission to a boat refused, and no legal proceedings were
necessary in respect of any of the infringements discovered.
There was one case of infectious disease notified, viz.:—scarlet fever.
There were two deaths reported amongst canal boat dwellers.
Four boats were registered.
One hundred and twenty-three children of school age were found to be living on the
canal boats using the Paddington Basin (57 males, 66 females), an increase on the figure
reported last year, due to a larger number of " sand " boats entering the Basin.
The total number of boats in respect of which certificates of registration had been
issued at the end of the year was 253.
It is practically certain that a number of boats, registered many years ago, have
changed ownership, been registered with another authority or been broken up. It is under
the circumstances impossible to trace a number of registered boats or to know the exact
number of " live " certificates of registration.
One of the requisites for an inhabited canal boat is that if ordinarily used for the conveyance
of any foul or offensive cargo, it shall contain between the space occupied by such cargo
and the interior of any cabin used as a dwelling, two bulkheads of substantial construction,
separated by a space not less in any part than four inches, open throughout to the external air.
Such space must be furnished with a pump for the removal of any liquid and the bulkhead
next to the cargo is to be watertight.
It has not hitherto been considered in this Borough that house refuse comes within the
scope of the term " foul or offensive " cargo. Steps are now being taken, however, that
double bulkheads shall be fitted to all inhabited canal boats conveying house refuse and the
owners of such boats are taking all necessary action to comply with this interpretation of the
Regulations.
During the year, 3 inhabited boats known to be conveying house refuse from Paddington
Basin, were fitted with double bulkheads. Eight boats still remain to be dealt with.
These will be refitted as circumstances permit.
The annual cleansing at Paddington Basin was carried out during the Easter holidays.
About 1,411 tons of mud were removed from the bed of the Basin, in addition to 730 tons
which were dredged previously. Later in the year the Lagoon was dredged and cleared of
1,525 tons of mud, and 692i tons of mud were removed from the canal, between Westbourne
Terrace Road Bridge and Ranelagh Road Bridge.
HOUSING.
Conversions.—Section 102 of the Housing Act, 1925, and Section 84 of the Law of
Property Act, 1925, empower a County Court to vary the terms of a lease or other instrument
so as to enable a house to be converted into tenements, notwithstanding any restrictive
covenant there may be to the contrary. Two applications under these Sections were made
during the year relative to the conversion into flats of No. 13, Palace Court and No. 108,
Lancaster Gate. The latter, however, was subsequently withdrawn.
Plans continue to be submitted to the Council under the drainage bye-laws, relative to the
conversion of premises into tenements. It is probable that a number of other conversions
were carried out in which no interference with existing drainage was involved. Such conversions
would not come within the purview of the department.
Compulsory Repairs.—No notices were served under Section 3 of the Housing Act, 1925,
or Section 17 of the Act of 1930, but 211 communications were sent to owners drawing
attention to defects liable to be dealt with under these sections. These communications in
most instances resulted in the defects being remedied.
Unhealthy Areas.—No representations were made to the Council during 1931.
Houses Unfit for Habitation.—No representations were received or Closing or Demolition
Orders made during the year.
Underground Rooms.—No rooms were dealt with under the Council's Regulations
pursuant to Section 18 of the Housing Act, 1925, but action was taken under Section 96 of
the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, with respect to the illegal occupation of underground
rooms at three premises. In each instance the illegal occupation was discontinued.