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42
MEN S COMMON LODGING HOUSES.
There are 8 Common Lodging Houses for men in the Borough, containing
1,573 beds, two houses containing a total of 128 beds having
been closed during the past year; the closing of these has not affected
the remainder, which are now only about two-thirds full.
The premises are inspected periodically by the District Inspectors,
77 visits having been made during 1937, and many defects have been
remedied on verbal instructions.
The houses are each supervised by a Keeper and, generally speaking,
they are clean and well maintained, but there is one which is a little
difficult, and if improvement is not made in the near future more drastic
action will have to be taken.
WOMEN'S COMMON LODGING HOUSES.
I have received the following report from Miss G. Briggs:—
There are 5 Women's Common Lodging Houses in the Borough,
containing a total of 336 beds.
There is no overcrowding, as only about two-thirds of the beds are
occupied at the present time, although there was a slight increase in
numbers at the time of the Coronation.
These houses are visited and inspected regularly, 72 inspections
having been made during the year under review, and defects such as
broken sashcords, bed springs and balusters have been remedied on verbal
instruction.
Two Intimation Notices have been served for defective W.C.'s. In
one case the work was completed without further action, and in the
second case the work is proceeding. The cleansing of the walls and
ceilings has been carried out at all the houses, and they have been kept
in good condition.
Use has been made of the Council's Cleansing Station for disinfection
of bedding and cleansing of lodgers when this has been found necessary.
One complaint was received during the year—this was anonymous—
and when investigated was found to be without foundation.
Improvements have been made at two of the houses. In one, a
better means of storing crockery and kitchen utensils has been arranged,
and in the other, heating apparatus for the bedrooms has been installed.
The Deputy Keepers have remained the same at 4 houses, and at
one house where the Deputy was unsuitable, a temporary Deputy is now
in charge.