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crowded families, being of the opinion that this would appear to
be an eminently suitable method of providing accommodation
for large families.
In September the Council made Compulsory Purchase Orders
for the acquisition of four houses in Grayling Road which was
submitted to the Minister of Health for confirmation, and in
October similar action was taken in resp?ct of four houses in
Belgrade Road.
Housing Act, 1935—Abatement and Prevention of Overcrowding.
In May the Council decided to make application to the Minister
of Health for the fixing of the 1st January, 1937, as the "appointed
day " under sections 3,4,8 and 68 of the Housing Act, 1935, in
relation to this Borough. This application was duly granted
and the Minister of Health by an Order dated the 26th June, 1936,
fixed the 1st January, 1937, as the "appointed day" under the
sections above mentioned, and the 1st July, 1936, as the
" appointed day" under section 6.
Overcrowding thus constituted an offence in this Borough after
the 1st January, 1937, and under section 6 (2) of the Act it is the
duty of the Council, upon the application of the landlord or of the
occupier of a dwelling-house, to inform the applicant, in writing,
of the number of persons constituting the permitted number in
relation to that house.
To do this measurements had to be available in respect of a
total of 5,889 houses in the Borough prior to the 1st January, 1937.
Of these houses 1,252 were dealt with during the initial survey
of overcrowding and 4,637 houses had still to be measured. In
order to carry out these duties authority was given for a staff
of five temporary Survey Assistants to be engaged, and the
necessary work was completed by 24th December.
The following summary of Housing Statistics is included in this
report on the instructions of the Ministry of Health:—
HOUSING STATISTICS
For the Year 1936
1.—Inspection of Dwelling-Houses During the Year:—
(1) (a) Total number of dwelling-houses inspected for
housing defects (under Public Health or
Housing Acts) 1,768
(b) Number of Inspections made for the purpose 5,602
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