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33
Administration.
Slum Clearance.
Although public attention has been so focussed upon the slum problem that few
are prepared to deny that it is a question of the first magnitude in our national life,
there is, nevertheless, equal certainty that few, apart from those actually engaged
upon the task, appreciate the variety of processes involved in the transference of
a family from a slum dwelling to satisfactory housing conditions by action under
section 1 of the Housing Act, 1930. There is first the work of survey of insanitary
areas and their relation to surrounding property and consideration of how best to
provide a site suitable for rehousing purposes ; then the laying out of the site to the
best advantage and the planning of the new buildings to be erected thereon ; the
erection of the buildings and finally the transference of men, women and children
in a manner best calculated to meet their requirements as regards reasonable access
to their work and the other amenities which are of great importance to the individual.
These are separate parts of the task and, except for the survey, follow the initial step
of " representation " of the insanitary area. Added to these, are the steps to be
taken to prepare the necessary evidence for the local enquiry held by the Ministry
of Health and attendance at the enquiry for the giving of the evidence and cross.
examination thereon.
The housing section of the public health department is mainly concerned with
the first stage of " representation " and the preparation of evidence which, for
clearance areas, begins as periodic inspections of working class property throughout
the county, and ultimately resolves itself into a map of the particular insanitary
area showing exactly the properties which, for the reasons set out in section 1 of
the Housing Act, 1930, are unfit for human habitation or dangerous or injurious
to health. The map is accompanied by a representation stating, inter alia, that the
most satisfactory method of dealing with conditions in the area is the demolition of
all the buildings included therein.
As a climax to this first stage of a clearance scheme, the representation map
may well appear to be a small thing. Certainly it is by no means indicative of the
arduous work of detailed inspection, often on several occasions, of house after house.
The tenant or occupier does not welcome disturbance, and is in a position to create
obstacles and delay unless approached with some tact and good humour.
Improvement area procedure in London is somewhat different as the bulk of
the work falls on the metropolitan borough councils. The action taken as regards
this type of area has, up to the present, been exploratory and largely experimental.
For the past year, except in one instance of an improvement area which is
mentioned later in the statistical statement, attention has been concentrated on
clearance work.
During the year the number of medical officers wholly engaged upon housing
fieldwork has been gradually increased from one to five, and provision has been
arranged for the making of two further appointments as required during 1035. Eight
extra sanitary inspectors have been appointed, bringing the total inspectorial staff
engaged on slum clearance to fifteen, and the clerical staff has also been suitably
augmented.
It may be desirable at this point to refer statistically to the year's work, it being
understood, so far as clearance is concerned, that the figures relate only to representations
submitted to the Housing and Public Health Committee in respect of property
conforming to the provisions, as regards unfitness for human habitation, of section I
of the Housing Act, 1930. If an area is sufficiently large in itself, or if it adjoins
available land, it may offer possibilities as regards a site for rehousing purposes. In
such case, the resolution of the Council usually provides for the purchase of additional
land in order to provide a convenient rehousing scheme. Such augmentations are
not referred to in the following statement:—
Clearance.
Number of areas represented under section 1 of the Housing Act,
1930 60
Number of houses included therein 3,540
This brings the total number of representations under the 1930 Housing Act
up to 87, including 6,003 houses.