View report page

195
During the year the Westminster City Council applied for a supplemental
contribution from the County rate under section 2(5) of the Housing (Financial
Provisions) Act, 1924, in respect of 77 flats erected by the City Council, in Esherstreet.
The Council did not see its way to approve the scheme for the purposes of
grant, on the grounds that the cost of the site and buildings was exceptionally high
and that the rents proposed to be charged were too low.
Returns as to the progress of housing in Greater London since the war are
submitted to the Council periodically. The latest return for 1928 brings the figures
up to 31st December, 1928.
The total number of new houses and flats provided in Greater London during
the whole period from 1920 to 1928 inclusive was 201,015 which includes 70,183
provided by local authorities. The number provided during 1928 was 42,097, of
which 14,730 were provided by local authorities.
The question of the continuance of the Rent Restrictions Acts engaged the
attention of the Council during the year, but while the matter was under consideration
the Minister of Health, announced in the House of Commons on 26th July,
1928, the intention of H.M. Government to provide for the continuance of the
Acts in their present form for another year, i.e., until 25th December, 1929, by including
them in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. This was afterwards done. In
the circumstances no representations were made by the Council in the matter.
The Council's action in earlier years with regard to workmen's trains at cheap
fares was dealt with in the Annual Report for 1920 (Vol. I., p. 77). In the Annual
Reports for 1923 (Vol. III., pp. 139-40), 1924 (Vol. III., p. 153), and 1926 (Vol. III.,
p. 192) particulars are given of the proceedings before the Railway Rates Tribunal
at which representations were made by the Council on the subject of the charges to
be made for workmen's fares and season tickets on London railways. The new
scale for workmen's fares, particulars of which are given in the Annual Report for
1927 (Vol. III., pp. 209-10), as well as the standard charges approved by the Tribunal
in respect of goods, ordinary passenger fares and season ticket rates, came into
operation on 1st January, 1928. The new scales of charges are subject to revision
at the end of the first complete financial year according as they produced more or
less than the standard revenue ascertained by the Tribunal.
Housing
progress in
Greater
London.
Rent
Restrictions
Acta—
Continuance.