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41
B.—Informal action in respect of parts of buildings unfit for
human habitation.
(1) Number of instances of informal action initiated to secure
requirements of the Housing Acts and Regulations made
thereunder—
(a) in respect of underground rooms 41
(b) in respect of other parts of buildings 16
In five instances the informal action procedure was
adopted at the suggestion of the Medical Officer of
Health, and in 52 cases on the initiative of owners.
C.—Contravention of Closing Orders.
(1) Number of contraventions of Closing Orders reported Nil
(2) Number of legal proceedings instituted Nil
5. Housing Act, 1957—Part IV—Overcrowding.
(1) Number of new cases of overcrowding reported during the
year 7
(2) Number of cases of overcrowding relieved during the year 12
Slum Clearance
Programme for 1961-65.
On the 23rd June, 1960, the City Council approved proposals (which
were also subsequently approved by the London County Council) for action
to be taken by the City Council under Part II (Demolition of individual
unfit houses) or Part III (Clearance area procedure) of the Housing Act,
1957, to secure the demolition during the five-year-period, 1961-65, of
87 houses and flats in Westminster which are considered to be unfit for
human habitation. These proposals were submitted jointly by the
County Council and the City Council to the Minister of Housing and
Local Government for approval.
In June, 1961, the Minister approved the proposals but pointed out
that his approval did not imply that he will necessarily confirm the
specific compulsory purchase orders or clearance orders submitted to
him by the City Council to implement the programme.
Clearance Areas.
In pursuance of the slum clearance programme referred to above, I
made representations during 1961 for dealing with (a) 6 unfit houses in
the Soho area, and (b) 2 unfit houses in the Covent Garden area:—
(a) Nos. 20, 21, 22 and 23 Peter Street, W. 1. and 6 and 7, Green's
Court, W. 1. (0.132 acre).
The City Council at its meeting on the 25th May, 1961, resolved that
an Order should be made declaring this area to be a clearance area, in
accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act, 1957.