View report page

76
considerable improvements were made, many of them voluntarily by property owners,
and others were due to be made either voluntarily or on account of action taken by
the Council. The war unfortunately put a stop to the good work that was being
done along these lines, and since the termination it has been found impossible and
impracticable to resume it.
(3) Difficulties in remedying unfitness, special measures taken and
any suggestions in the matter. The nature of the difficulties in the way of
remedying unfitness are common knowledge and in any case have been more or
less indicated above. Special measures taken: none. Suggestions: none to
offer here.
(4) Conditions, so far as they affect housing, as regards water supply,
closet accommodation and refuse disposal, together with measures taken
during the year in these matters. These have been sufficiently referred to
under the appropriate headings elsewhere. They do not, in any case, affect
the housing question in the Borough to any extent.
IV. Unhealthy Areas.
(1) Action taken as regards areas represented before the beginning of
the year under Part I or Part II of the Housing Act, 1890. None.
(2) Particulars of, and action taken, as regards areas represented
during the year. None.
(3) Information as to complaints made during the year that areas were
unhealthy and action taken. None received.
V. By-laws relating to Houses, Houses Let in Lodgings,
and to Tents, Vans, Sheds, etc.
(1) As to working of existing By-laws. (Seep. 19.)
(2) As to need for new By-laws or revision of existing By-laws. The
London County Council is now the authority for making By-laws with regard to
tenement houses, and new By-laws are in course of preparation.
VI. General and Miscellaneous.
Under this head there may be noted the fact that during the year the
Council received notification that Lord Portman desired to present a
site extending to about 1.6 acres to the Council for housing purposes.
Unfortunately the donor died before the gift was completed, but his successor
generously declared that it was his intention also to make the gift, and but for
the fact that the new Lord Portman was so seriously ill as to be unable to
transact the necessary business, the site no doubt would have been in the hands
of the Council before the end of the year. The Housing Committee amongst
other matters gave very serious consideration to the question of how to deal with
the area included in the gift, and it seems certain that very soon after it is
formally handed over it will be used for the purpose which the donor intended,
viz., the better housing of members of the working classes.
VII. Appendices.
Table A contains the information asked for by the Ministry. Table B,
continued from the report of 1915, having been omitted from the reports of
1916, 1917 and 1918 is introduced in order to complete the record with regard
to certain of the premises.