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The fact that there are caretakers (a man and his wife) at the Tuberculosis
Dispensary has already been noted. In addition to looking after the premises
they also render great assistance in connection with the conduct of the clinics, taking
notes, helping in the weighing of the patients, etc.
(2) Hospital accommodation.—This being a matter with which the
Borough Councils in London have no direct concern, it is not considered
necessary to make special reference to it.
(3) Local Acts, special local orders and their administration.—There are
no Acts or Orders applicable in the Borough which do not apply to other parts
of London. The London County Council (General Powers) Acts contain a
number of provisions under which a considerable amount of work is done,
e.g., those relating to places where food is dealt with. Reference is made to
these elsewhere.
HOUSING.
From the formal return given below, which is that required to be made by
the Ministry, it will be noted that amongst the new houses erected there are, "as
part of a municipal housing scheme, 40 flats." This indicates the completion
of the seven blocks of flats planned to be erected upon the site presented by
the late Lord Portman to the Council for the purpose of housing the working
classes, and known as The Fisherton Street Site. The first block, the completion
of which was considerably delayed by strikes and other labour difficulties, was
formally opened by the then Mayor (Mr. Alderman Brooks) on 7th November,
1924, and very shortly afterwards the second also was completed and occupied.
The accommodation provided in each of the flats consists of a living room, scullery,
bathroom, and W.C., and three bedrooms. There is a plentiful supply of hot
water to each, and there is in addition a laundry with washing and drying rooms
for the use of the tenants in common. The blocks are well situated as regards
light and air, and both gas and electricity are available for cooking, lighting, etc.
The total number of families housed is 130, the majority being persons who
were dishoused when the site was cleared. That this would be so was anticipated
as it was also anticipated that the scheme itself would help very little towards a
reduction of the housing shortage in the borough as a whole. As a matter of
fact, so far as this is concerned, the chief reliance is still and will continue to
be upon the London County Council, who during the year found accommodation
for 192 families living in the borough under overcrowded conditions.