View report page

22
and report on behalf of the Health Department upon applications for loans for the purchase of
houses and grants for improvement works. In addition two of these inspectors commenced,
toward the end of the year, a survey of the hotels in the City.
During 1968 progress was made towards the implementation of the North Westminster Project
in conjunction with the other departments concerned. Public Inquiries by the Minister of Housing and
Local Government were held in 1968 in respect of three areas in the Project (Herries Street (North),
Herries Street (South), and Tavistock Crescent area). The Herries Street (North) Compulsory
Purchase Order was confirmed (with modifications) and decisions are awaited in respect of the
other two areas. By arrangement with the Greater London Council the City Council is also dealing
with the Mozart Street area for which a compulsory purchase order was confirmed in 1967.
Toward the end of the year regrouping of the public health inspectors was effected so that a
specialist team could initiate a full inspection of all privately owned premises within the Project
area and undertake subsequent action required of the Health Department.
A summary of all visits made is given in Table 12, page 84.
Houses in Multiple Occupation-—Management Orders, Directions and Notices
In addition to the normal work in other parts of the City in connection with houses in multiple
occupation a house-to-house survey in the Pimlico area was commenced in March by two public
health inspectors. The survey will continue in this area throughout 1969. At the end of the year,
207 properties had been inspected of which 116 required action either informally or by service of
notice.
Details of the management orders made, directions given and notices served under the Housing
Acts 1961 -1964 are shown in Table 13, page 84.
Houses in Multiple Occupation—Control Orders
At the end of the year three control orders under the Housing Act 1964 were in operation.
Two of these were made in 1964 and one in 1965.
Unfit Premises
Details of closing orders on parts of buildings made under the Housing Act 1957 are given in
Table 14, page 85.
Housing Priority on Medical Grounds
At the request of the Inner London Local Medical Committee, and with the co-operation of all
general practitioners and hospitals in Westminster and on its borders, a revised procedure in
relation to medical priorities associated with applications for rehousing has been operating since
March, 1968.
Basically, the new system provides for applicants wishing to obtain medical priority to indicate
their reasons for making the claim and give authority for the Medical Officer of Health to communicate
directly with the medical adviser concerned if further information is required. This supersedes the
earlier procedure whereby applicants submitted a medical certificate.
Thanks to the ready participation of general practioners and hospital medical staff and the
co-operation of the Housing Manager and his staff the new scheme is operating smoothly and
successfully. While credit must be given to another London Borough for initiating such a scheme,
it is of interest to note that the revised "Westminster procedure" has now been adopted by some
other Inner London Boroughs.
During the year, 1,254 (969) cases of rehousing applications supported by either medical
certificates or claims for medical priority were dealt with.
Unlawful Eviction, Harassment and Provision of Rent Books
An officer on the inspectorial staff of the Health Department is now engaged full time on the
investigation of these matters and during the year made enquiries into 178 new cases of alleged
harassment and 26 instances of non-provision of rent books. The figures for 1967 were 112 and
43 respectively.
Overcrowding
Table 15, page 85, gives statistical information on the known cases at the end of the year.