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houses which arc not in all respects fit for human habitation
but can be made fit, and to which a probable life of at least
80 years can be given.
(2) Where an approved Public Utility Society exists or can readily
be formed, the houses should normally be acquired on behalf
of the Society who will repair, improve and manage them.
(3) In the absence of such a society, the Local Authority should be
empowered to lease the houses to House Management Commissioners,
to be appointed by and be responsible to the
Local Authority.
(4) Where neither of the alternatives referred to in (2) and (3) above
is practicable, the Local Authority should be empowered to
hold, repair and manage the houses itself.
(5) Management should be based upon the Octavia Hill system.
(6) In suitable cases the Local Authority or Public Utility Society
should be authorised to demolish the acquired houses with a
view to obtaining a rehousing site.
(7) Local authorities to have power to acquire fit properties for the
purpose of securing a convenient area for management or to
facilitate ultimate redevelopment.
It is understood that the Minister contemplates introducing a Bill in
the next session after discussion with Housing Authorities to embody
such of the recommendations of the Report as may prove generally
acceptable.
Housing Schemes of the City Council.
Grosvenor Housing Scheme.—By the end of 1933 a further block had
been completed and was ready for occupation, so that 520 dwellings of
the original G04 contemplated are now in use. There remains only
Block C, consisting of 84 flats, to be completed in 1934. It will be
remembered that the housing accommodation in this scheme was based
on the number of households on the .Millbank estate on the night of
6th January, 1928. The passage of time, bringing removals from the
district and other changes in the constitution of families, has considerably
reduced the number of tenants who were entitled through the
Millbank Act, 1929, to be rehoused in the new estate. There has consequently
been set free a number of flats, some completed and others to
be built, which will be available for rehousing purposes, thus providing
additional accommodation. Tenants in the older dwellings will have
an opportunity of being transferred to the new, thus creating vacancies
for the inhabitants of declared clearance areas and other cases of bad
housing.