Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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equipment, etc., and it was finally decided by the Council that the sum of £122 15s. 5d.,
part thereof, be paid out of the repairs fund connected with the buildings, and the balance of
£227 6s. 3d. out of the rates.
Brookfield.—In regard to the contract for the buildings on the Brookfield Estate
(exclusive of the block of 12 flats comprising Chester House, under a separate contract), the
original amount of the contract for the erection of 190 tenements and the construction of
roads and sewers by Mr. Albert Monk, Contractor, was £242,547. The expenditure paid
direct by the Courcil, otherwise than by contract, amounted to £1,833 12s. 1d., making a
total estimated expenditure for the whole of the works of £244,380 12s. 1d. As in the case
of Una House, the contract provided for any increase or decrease in the prices of materials
and the claims for wages that might be affected during the course of the contract. The
result has been that these prices (unlike Una House) decreased during that period to a ralher
large extent, the Ministry of Health ultimately agreeing to a total payment to the Contractor
of £216,949 8s. 4d. By these figures there was a saving of £25,597 11s. 8d. as compared
with the contract price, and this contrasts with a loss of £6,151 15s. 6d. in respect of Una
House.
Included in the total cost of these works, the Ministry of Health, in the first instance,
expressed the view that certain items of expenditure, amounting to £1,391 16s. 7d. (which by
negotiations were afterwards reduced to £553 13s. 5d.), could not be regarded as ranking for
financial assistance. The latter amount was in respect of £460 for gas services in excess of
approved an ounts per house, and £93 13s. 5d. for time switches and office furniture. It was
decided by the Council that this latter amount should be paid out of the repairs fund, and
the former amount of £460 out oi the rates.
Chester House.— In regard to the block of flats known as Chester House, which was
erected by Messrs. J. W. Falkner & Sons, the original amount of the contract was
£11,239; but in consequence of the increase in wages and cost of materials, the final amount
payable to the contractors, and agreed to by the Ministry of Health, amounted to
£13,414 3s. 6d., an excess of £2,175 3s. 6d. over the contract sum. The Ministry intimated
that certain items of expenditure (in respect of garden work, alterations to living-room
cupboards, etc.), amounting to £215 17s. 3d., subsequently reduced upon negotiations to
£119 1s. 1d., could not rank for financial assistance. It was therefore decided to meet the
expenditure partly out of the repairs fund and partly out of the rates.
Goldington Buildings, Flaxman Terrace, Prospect Terrace.
At Goldington Buildings there are 56 flats, and the weekly rentals range from 6s. 3d.
to 19s. 7d. At Flaxman Terrace there are 84 flats, with rents varying from 8s. 4d. to
17s. 5d. Prospect Ten ace contains 70 flats, and the rents vary from 9s. 9d. to 16s. 9d.
Somkrs Town.
Wolcot Street.—The negotiations were continued with the Ministry of Health in regard
to the Council's proposals, which originated in 1919, for improving the unhealthy conditions
existing in the Wolcot Street area. It is satisfactory to repcrt that the sanction of the
Ministry has now been received. The Order confirming the Scheme is as follows:—
Housing Acts, 1890 to 1924.
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF SAINT PANCRAS.
Saint Pancras (Somers Town Improvement Scheme) Order, 1925.
Whereas the Metropolitan Borough Council of Saint Pancras (hereinafter referred to as "the
Council") have caused a Scheme, dated the 29th August, 1921 (hereinafter referred to as
"the Scheme"), to be prepared under Part II of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890
(hereinafter referred to as "the Act of 1890''), for the improvement of the area therein described