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Church Street Site No. 4 (196 dwellings)
Sketch plans and estimates for this site are under consideration.
Clipstone Street Area (246 flats)
Some properties have been acquired and negotiations for the acquisition of the remainder of the
site are proceeding. A Compulsory Purchase Order resolution has been passed by the Council.
Preservation of Lower Rented Accommodation.
The purchase of the freehold interest in Wharncliffe Gardens, a block of 539 flats, commenced in
1963 in pursuance of the Council's policy of acquiring lower-rented properties in danger of losing their
rental character, was completed during the year.

* Bronwen Court, also purchased as part of this estate, is a higher-rented block of 64 flats. Discussions have taken
place with the tenants' association with a view to the tenants forming a housing association to acquire a long
lease from the Council.
Housing (Financial Provisions) Acts, 1958-59.
(а) Loans.—The Council approved the making of 6 loans during the year totalling £27,500 to enable
applicants to acquire premises for owner/occupation.
(b) Improvement Grants.—Discretionary and Standard Grants totalling £7,885 1s. 5d., in respect of
32 dwellings, were approved during the year to convert and improve existing premises.
Old People's Consultative Committee.
This Committee was formed in 1961 and comprises members of the Housing Committee, Public
Health Committee and representatives of the St. Marylebone Old People's Welfare Association.
They meet from time to time to review the provision in the Borough of housing accommodation for
old people and to advise the Housing Committee accordingly. For the last two years they have been
concerned with the development of the Day Centre for the Elderly which has now been completed and
came into use during the year. A full report on this Centre appears 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.
Two applications for the cancellation of certificates under the provisions of the Rent Act, 1957, were
received during the year, and one was cancelled.
Housing Act, 1961—Houses in Multiple Occupation.
The system started in 1962 was continued 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 has brought good
response, resulting in much useful informal work being done and many voluntary improvements being
made. Where, after a reasonable lapse of time, the invitation had not been accepted, the premises
were re-visited to ascertain that conditions remained as previously noted, and full particulars of all
deficiencies were recorded so that a schedule of specific requirements could be prepared and sent to the
person responsible.
Inspections are made by the Borough Engineer's staff in respect of the provision of means of escape
in case of fire, and schedules of works in respect of both amenities and means of escape are despatched
concurrently.
The greatest number of amenity deficiencies occur in respect of baths, availability of hot water, and
proper food storage facilities. Means of escape from fire are frequently found to be sub-standard, and
the remedy could in many cases be the most costly part of the total work required.