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Council, 9(15) were provided with accommodation by the Borough
Council, 24 (26) secured accommodation privately and 6 (6) were
relieved by a natural reduction in the size of the family or on obtaining
additional accommodation.
The practice of sending warning letters to owners against perimitting
the premises to become again overcrowded has been
continued in all known cases where overcrowding has been abated.
Section 80 of the Housing Act, 1957 gives a local authority
power, where they are satisfied that exceptional circumstances
exist which make it expedient to do so, to allow the temporary
use of a house by persons in excess of the permitted number. During
the year the Council issued one (—) licence und:r this section.
During the year a total of 147 (201) Paddington families were
rehoused by the London County Council and 135 (194) by the
Borough Council.
Housing Accommodation—Preferential Treatment
During the year 241 (303) medical certificate were referred to
me by the Borough Director of Housing for "pointing." Points
are awarded for certified ill-health, and if the applicant's health is
affected by his living conditions the Public Health Department
investigates these conditions and in many instances is able to get
them remedied.
Houses Unfit for Human Habitation
No. of basement rooms dealt with by closing orders 59 (60)
No. of upper rooms closed 3 (5)
No. of mews premises closed 20 (5)
No. of houses dealt with by closing orders in lieu of
demolition orders — (1)
No. of houses dealt with by demolition orders or in
respect of which undertakings were accepted — (—)
Fifty-two (25) persons were displaced as a result of the Council's
operations.
Closing Orders were determined or undertakings cancelled on
72 (95) basement rooms. Fifty (58) other rooms were made
fit without recourse to formal proceedings.
New Accommodation
During the year the Council completed eight (82) new flats at
Westbury House.
HOUSING ACT, 1961
The house to house survey in the Portnall Road Area, referred
to in my previous report, was continued at the commencement of
1963. The attention of the owners of the properties was drawn to
any deficiencies and advice was given on some of the problems
involving controlled lettings, and where the occupiers were elderly
persons with long-standing tenancies. Many of these were not
particularly enthusiastic and in some cases feared the possibility of
repercussions of the Council's insistence on the provision of additional
amenities. Publicity as to the availability of Standard and
Discretionary Improvement Grants was also given but the response
was disappointing.