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91
WORK OF THE ESTATES COMMITTEE.
The following summary of the principal matters dealt with by the Estates Committee
during the past year has been prepared by Mr. A. Powell Coke, Clerk to the Committee.
The Committee controls 478 dwellings, chiefly consisting of flats, in different parts of
the Borough. Flats seldom become empty, and no difficulty is experienced in filling the
vacancies from the waiting list.
Brookfield Estate.
The Estate comprises 202 tenancies, which have been fully occupied throughout the
year. The gross weekly rents range from 12s. 10d. to 28s. 4d., according to the number of
rooms and position.
Certain of the trees which were planted when the Estate was completed failed to survive
and have since been replaced. The grass plots in front of the flats and the privet hedges
throughout the Estate are well established, and whilst they need considerable attention to
keep them in good condition, it is generally agreed that the labour involved is well repaid by
adding to the amenities of the Estate.
Further applications were received from tenants for permission to instal wireless receiving
sets, and 80 aerials have been erected on the Estate.
Una House.
This scheme comprises 64 flats, and the present gross rents vary from 13s. 2d. to
20s. 9d. weekly, according to the accommodation.
One of the deletions made by the Ministry of Health in this scheme was the provision
of lead aprons over the windows, with the result that considerable trouble has been
experienced by rain driving in over the window heads, particularly on the top floors.
Experiments were carried out, with the result that the whole of the openings to the top floor
windows and certain others have since been fitted with drips to throw off the water.
An offer was received for the purchase of the piece of freehold land adjoining Una
House, with a frontage in Grafton Mews, on which it was originally intended to erect a
creche to serve the needs of the neighbourhood, but the proposal was abandoned owing to the
heavy capital cost and the difficulty of obtaining the sanction of the Ministry of Health. The
land was part of the site acquired for a public library, the major portion of which was
utilised in erecting the flats, and was placed by the Education and Public Libraries Committee
under the control of the Estates Committee and laid out with shrubs and grass in order to
preserve the amenities of the buildings. The Committee decided not to entertain the offer, as,
if the land was used for commercial purposes, it would probably be a source of annoyance to
the tenants whose flats overlook the ground.
Final Accounts, Assisted Housing Schemes.
The final statements of accounts have been completed during the year.
Una House.—With reference to Una House, the original amount of the contract was
£76,001 14s. Od. In consequence principally of the increase in wages and the cost of
materials during the course of construction (provided under the contract), the final account of
the contractors, Messrs. Chessums, Ltd., was agreed at £82,153 9s. 6d., with the approval of
the Ministry of Health, which was an excess over the contract of £6,151 15s. 6d. The cost
of the work done by the Council direct amounted to £472 14s. 11d., bringing the total cost
of the buildings to £82,626 4s. 5d.
There were certain items included in the above sum of £82,626 4s. 5d., amounting to
£350 1s. 8d., which the Ministry stated could not rank for financial assistance, such
expenditure being for additional painting of pipes, ornamental rainwater heads, office