View report page

65
Green-street site. In November the committee reported that the increase in the price of labour
and materials made it necessary to revise the estimate which had been made in 1897 for the erection
of buildings upon this site, and that a yearly deficit of £80 might be looked for. The Council
therefore resolved to suspend, with regard to this site, the standing order providing that the
erection of dwellings should not entail charge upon the rates. In December the Council accepted
tenders for the erection of these buildings at a cost of £24,495.
Mill-lane, Deptford—The paving works in connection with this scheme were completed in
the early part of the year.
Other proceedings under the Housing of the Working Classes Act.
Millbank estate—This land had been acquired by the Council under Part III. of the Act.
The work of constructing the roads was proceeded with during the year, and the erection of the
first block of dwellings, Hogarth-buildings, providing accommodation for 306 persons, at a cost of
£14,018, was commenced.
Aylesbury-place, Clerkeuncell—In June the Housing of the Working Classes Committee
reported to the Council that the medical officer of health of Clerkenwell had, at the end of the
preceding year, made a representation with respect to an area in that district, bounded on the
north by Aylesbury-street, on the south by Albemarle-street, on the east by St. John's-street, and
on the west by Jerusalem-passage. There are about 97 houses on the area, which are occupied by
about 580 persons of the working class. The committee stated that the area is very largely composed
of business premises, which occupy almost all the frontages, the houses inhabited by the
working classes lying for the most part at the back. The committee considered that the evils
existing in the area are such as should be remedied by a scheme which, however, ought to be
framed under Part II. of the Act, and recommended the Council to pass a resolution to the effect
that the area should be dealt with under that part of the Act, and that the resolution be submitted
to the Secretary of State. This recommendation was adopted.
During the year the Housing of the Working Classes Committee had under consideration
the need of the provision of more house accommodation for the working class population of London,
and in October the committee reported to the Council that inasmuch as the Council had power
to buy large plots of land on the outskirts of London and build cottage dwellings, they had
instructed the officers to report on the desirability of the Council adopting this course. The opinion
of the officers was adverse to this proposal, for the reasons that such action was calculated to check
the action of private persons who now built for profit. They thought that the amount of
provision required was so great that a public authority could not substantially meet the demand
for quantity of accommodation, that the Council, in building, would have to incur greater expense
in construction and management, and that the best results would be obtained by the development
of means of communication between central London and the outskirts where the land was not yet
built on. The valuer had further called attention to the effect which the present system of levying
local taxation had upon the erection of working class dwellings. The committee, however, thought
that distinction might be made between building within and without London, and that it should be
the policy of the Council to proceed from time to time, as opportunity shall offer, with the acquisition
under Part III. of the Housing of Working Classes Act, 1890, of sites available for the
erection of working class dwellings within the County of London.
The committee also had under consideration the question whether in any scheme involving
the demolition of working-class dwellings the amount of accommodation provided should be for a
number equal to the total number of persons of the working class displaced, and they thought
this course should be adopted by the Council, and that, further, schemes under the Act should be
more largely done by the Council and without contribution by district authorities. They therefore
made the following recommendations—
(а) That it be the policy of the Council to proceed from time to time as opportunity shall offer with
the acquisition under Part III. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, of sites available for
the erection of working-class dwellings within the County of London.
(b) That all clearances which involve re-housing be done at the sole cost of the Council.
(c) That housing accommodation should be provided for a number of persons equal to that of the
working classes displaced by any scheme under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, or under
the provisions of any Improvement Act.
(d) That housing accommodation for persons displaced be provided within the County of London,
but not necessarily in the immediate neighbourhood of the displacement, due consideration being given
to the needs of those living on any particular area.
The committee, later, presented a further report showing the course that had previously been
adopted in determining whether unhealthy areas should be cleared at the sole cost of the Council,
or of the district authority, or with contribution by one or the other, and finally the Council
adopted the following resolutions—
That housing accommodation should be provided for a number of persons equal to that of the
working classes displaced by any scheme under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, or under
the provisions of any improvement Act, but not necessarily in the immediate neighbourhood of the
displacement, due consideration being given to the needs of those living on any particular area; and
that a register be kept of all persons displaced, such persons, if possible, to have the first refusal of a
tenancy.
That all clearances under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, which involve re-housing
be done at the sole cost of the Council.
That, apart from the re-housing required in connection with clearance or improvement schemes,
and provided that no charge be placed on the county rate thereby, the Council do approve action being
taken under Part III. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, with a view to the purchase of
land and the erection of dwellings thereon, and also with the view of purchasing or leasing suitable
houses already or hereafter to be built or provided for the purpose of supplying housing accommodation.
L 9 ]