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79
pre-war flats, and pressing for the maximum reduction in order to arrive at the gross assess
ments. The Rating Committee accepted this principle.
Opening of Flats —The flats were formally declared opened on June 18th, 1921, and
the tenants moved in in the early part of July.
Brookfield Estate.
Tenders.—The Committee received and considered seven tenders for the erection of 19
blocks of maisonettes, 2 cottages, and 10 blocks of flats on this Estate comprising accommodation
for 190 families. The lowest tender received was that of Mr. Albert Monk, of Lower
Edmonton, in the sum of £229,619 for the buildings and £12,928 for the roads and sewers.
The London Housing Board authorised the Council to accept the tender subject to the following
conditions: — (a) to the Contract being based on the Ministry of Health's Form D. 88a;
(b) to the Council satisfying themselves of the Contractor's financial ability to carry out his
obligations; (c) to every effort being made to effcct savings during the progress of the work
by modifications; (d) to good rents being obtained; and (e) to the modifications already
submitted to the Council being adopted in view of the high contract price.
Foundations.—Owing to the nature of the ground and especially in view of the fact
that there was a slight settlement in Chester House, which has since been remedied, the Housing
Board agreed to the use of cement conerete in the trenches with a layer of heavy hoop iron in
the brick footings in lieu of blue lias concrete, in order to minimise any possible risk of
settlement.
Progress of Work.—The contractor took possession of the site towards the end of 1920,
and good progress is still maintained. It is anticipated that several flats and maisonettes will
soon be ready for occupation.
Proposed School Treatment Centre.—The Committee considered an application from
Mr. R. Kohnstamm to convey to him a site on the Brookfield Estate on which to erect a suitable
building where treatment of school children may be carried on under the management of a
Committee more or less on the lines of the Centres already established in St. Pancras. It
was agreed, with the sanction of the Ministry of Health, to let on building lease to Mr.
Kohnstumm for a term of 99 years at the ground rent of £35 per annum, a piece of land on
the Estate surplus to the housing requirements. The draft lease is now under consideration.
Prince of Wales Road.
Progress of Work.—The work is progressing steadily, but still slowly, owing to the
shortage of labour, the real outstanding trouble being the difficulty of obtaining the necessary
number of men particularly bricklayers and plasterers, but more especially the latter. This
deficiency has been made good to some extent, but additional plasterers are still needed.
It is anticipated that the block of 64 flats will be ready for occupation early in the
new year.
Provision of Coppers.—The question of providing coppers in connection with this
scheme was discussed in the early stages when it was thought that no special provision need be
made in view of the close proximity of the Public Baths and Washhouses. As the Public
Washhouses are fully occupied, and as it is clearly desirable that each tenant should have
facilities for washing, the Committee instructed the Architects to make the neces-ary provision.
The extra cost was estimated between £350 to £400, but the contingency sum
provided in the contract, unless otherwise allocated, should be sufficient to meet the extra
expenditure.