View report page

19
Housing (Financial Provisions) Acts, 1958-59.
(a) Loans.—The Council approved the making of 8 loans during the year, totalling £26,800, to
enable applicants to acquire premises for owner-occupation.
(b) Improvement Grants.—11 Discretionary Grants and 1 Standard Grant, totalling £5,764, were
approved during the year, to convert and improve existing premises.
Housing of Old People.
Beaumont Street (29 flats for old people)
Work on site has now recommenced after the engagement of a new Contractor became necessary.
Old People's Consultative Committee.
The Consultative Committee, composed of members of the Housing Committee, the Public Health
Committee and representatives of the St. Marylebone Old People's Welfare Association, met during
the year to review the provision of housing accommodation made in the Borough for old people.
They also considered the proposals to set up a Day Centre for the Elderly, referred to in Section B
of this report, under the heading " St. Marylebone Old People's Welfare Association," on page 7.
Dwelling-Houses.
Statistics regarding the inspection of dwelling-houses under the Public Health or Housing Acts,
defects remedied and action taken under statutory powers are contained in Table 5, page 32.
Certificates of Disrepair.
Six applications for the issue or cancellation of certificates under the provisions of the Rent Act,
1957, were received during the year.
Housing Act, 1961—Houses in Multiple Occupation.
In the light of earlier experience, towards the end of 1962 a system was started whereby full
information upon this aspect of Housing legislation was made available to owners of the type of
property concerned. Upon initial inspection indicating that a house within the category had
deficiencies under the Code of Practice, a copy of the Code, together with other pertinent information
on overcrowding, etc., was sent to the owner or managing agent with an invitation to discuss the
premises under consideration. This brought a good response, resulting in much useful informal
work being done and many voluntary improvements made. Where, after a reasonable lapse of time,
the invitation had not been accepted, the premises were re-visited to ascertain that conditions were
as previously noted, and full particulars of all deficiencies were recorded so that a short schedule of
specific requirements could be prepared and sent to the person responsible.
The Code of Practice in respect of the provision of means of escape in case of fire became available
from the London County Council in July, and joint inspections with the Borough Engineer's staff
were subsequently made of multiple-occupied dwellings, so that schedules of works in respect of
both amenities and means of escape could be despatched concurrently.
The survey revealed that the greatest number of amenity deficiencies occurred in respect of (1)
baths, (2) availability of hot water, and (3) proper food storage facilities. Means of escape from fire
were frequently found to be sub-standard, and to remedy this could in many cases prove to be the
most costly part of the total work required.
The works so far have all been carried out by owners and in no case has the Council been required
to authorise works in default.
Land Charges Act, 1925.
The Town Clerk referred to the Department 1,956 enquiries relating to details of any outstanding
notices, orders or other restrictions on the properties concerned.
Immigrants.
In previous reports mention has been made of the fact that the south-eastern corner of the Borough,
which is contiguous with Soho, contains a cosmopolitan population in which immigrants from Cyprus
and European countries predominate. Very few immigrants from the West Indies, India or Pakistan
appear to have settled in St. Marylebone.