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upon; the total number of new applications was therefore about 30,000, compared
with 19,903 in 1948 and 13,662 in 1947.
With such a large number of applications supported by medical evidence of
illness great care is necessary in selecting those which merit special preference and
much work is entailed in making enquiries to ensure that all necessary information
is available to enable a fair decision to be made. The assistance given by medical
officers of health of metropolitan boroughs and out-county authorities, of hospitals
and of doctors is gratefully acknowledged.
On the average special preference is recommended for 40 to 50 per cent. of the
applications which are supported by medical evidence. Analysis of one batch of
1,000 applications considered towards the end of the year, showed that 10 per cent.
were classified as "most urgent" and 37 per cent. as less urgent, but justifying
preference on health grounds. After careful consideration it was decided that the
degree of medical urgency disclosed by the doctors' certificates did not warrant
additional preference for the remaining 53 per cent.
Early in the year consideration was given to the resumption of the clearance of
insanitary and unhealthy dwellings and it was decided that, as a first step, six areas
which before the war had been represented by the Medical Officer of Health as unfit
or had been declared by the Council to be clearance areas but in respect of which
powers had not been obtained, should be re-surveyed with a view to clearance action
being commenced under Part III of the Housing Act, 1936.
As a result representation was made by the Medical Officer of Health to the
Housing Committee in respect of one of these areas, extending over 2.4 acres and
containing 161 unfit houses. The survey of the other areas was also put in hand.
One other small area comprising 38 houses was represented during the year. Three
areas were declared by the Council to be clearance areas and public local enquiries
were held by the Minister of Health. Compulsory purchase orders were subsequently
confirmed, without modification, in respect of the three areas.
A notification under section 33 of the Housing Act, 1936, of intention to deal
with thirteen unfit houses as a clearance area was received from the Fulham
borough council.
Surveys were made of 1,241 houses contained in sixteen areas apart from those
mentioned above, in connection with proposals for their acquisition by the Council
and consultations took place between officers of the Council and of metropolitan
borough councils concerning 191 houses on which slum clearance action was
contemplated under the Housing Act, 1936.
Conferences also took place with officers of a number of metropolitan borough
councils with a view to the completion in 1950 of a survey of insanitary areas
throughout the County.
Many houses which are structurally sound are lacking in modern amenities and
means of securing the improvement of such houses by advances, grants and exchequer
aid are now available to local authorities under the Housing Act, 1949. Such assistance
is to be given subject to the houses being capable of improvement to a specified
standard and to their having a useful life of a further 30 years.
During the year 3,776 searches were made in connection with enquiries concerning
properties scheduled as dangerous structures.
Clearance
areas
Housing Act,
1949
Dangerous
structures