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68
REVIEW OF HOUSING ACTIVITIES DURING 1938.
I beg to give below a resume of housing activities in the Borough
during the year under consideration.

In addition to these, 99 families have been accommodated in the
Borough Council's flats following action taken under the Slum Clearance,
Demolition and Closing Order Sections of the Housing Act.
Forty-six individual unfit houses have been the subject of Demolition
Orders made by the Council, and twenty-four of these are now demolished.
UNDERGROUND ROOMS.
It has always been my opinion that these should be closed wherever
possible, especially when they are inhabited by families of young children,
or where the occupants are suffering in health, and the rooms cannot be
made fit at a reasonable expense. As a result of my representations to
the Committee, Closing Orders have been made in 56 instances. Moreover,
a large number of basement rooms were found not to comply in all
respects with the Council's Underground Room Regulations, and Notices
were served on the Owners requiring them to carry out certain works.
Following this action, 57 basements have been made fit for human
habitation.
TRINITY BUILDINGS.
These buildings have been an "eyesore" to the Borough for several
years, and were included in the L.C.C. Mermaid Court Clearance Scheme.
The Minister of Health, however, decided to exclude them from the Clearance
Order, and requested, the Borough Council to deal with each flat
individually under Section 12, Housing Act, 1936. In accordance with
his request, the 47 flats concerned were represented by me to the Housing
Committee as unfit for human habitation, and Closing Orders were
made. I have succeeded in securing alternative accommodation for 36
of the families, and hope to re-house the remainder early in the New
Year.