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During the year, a total of 769 (291) families from Paddington
were rehoused on London County Council Estates or provided with
accommodation in New Towns under the Industrial Selection Scheme.
Housing Act, 1949—Improvements and Conversions.
Two (twenty-seven) applications for grants in respect of
proposed improvement or conversion of properties were referred to
the Department for examination and report. The preparation of
these reports involves consultation between the Public Health
Inspectors and other technical officers of the Council, as well as
interviews on the premises with the architects and owners concerned.
Town Planning.
One hundred and eighty-seven (229) applications to the London
County Council under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947,
for the conversion and alteration of premises, change of user and
continuation of consent were referred to the Council for examination
and comment. As a result of the Council's observations, permission
was refused for certain basement rooms to be used for human
habitation where the rooms did not conform to the statutes and
regulations in force in the Borough.
Land Charges Act, 1925.
Under the above-mentioned Act it is incumbent on the local
authority to keep a register of local land charges. Houses included
in clearance, improvement and redevelopment areas must be
registered, as well as houses subject to repair notices under Part II
of the Housing Act, 1957, and houses on which closing or
demolition orders have been made.
Some 1,530 (1,305) enquiries were referred to the Public Health
Department during the year asking for details of notices outstanding
and orders in operation under the Housing Act. At the same time
particulars were called for of sanitary or other notices outstanding
on the properties concerned.
Housing Enquiries.
Some 80 (200) communications were received during the year
from the Borough Director of Housing, the County Divisional
Medical Officer, the County Director of Housing and from other
authorities, requesting information on the housing conditions of
persons applying for rehousing on grounds of overcrowding,
insanitary conditions and ill-health. Such information enables the
enquirer to assess the degree of priority to be given to the applicants
concerned. In each case a visit was made by the Public Health
Inspector and a report furnished.