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their overall housing programme, the Housing Act 1969, which received Royal Assent on
the 25th July, 1969, introduced a new and self contained code for the grant-aided improvement
and conversion of houses. Whilst retaining the main features of the original
scheme with its various amendments it sought to give greater discretion and more
flexibility to local authorities in addition to increasing the upper limit of the financial
assistance available.
Three forms of grant are now available (a) improvement grants, still payable at the
discretion of the local authority for the improvement, conversion and repair of properties
likely to have a useful life of thirty years, and up to one half of the grant may now be
for repairs which can be related to the improvement; (b) standard grants obtainable by
owners as of right for the installation for the first time of standard amenities in the
form of hot water supply, a fixed bath or shower, sink, wash-hand basin and inside
water closet in dwellings with an estimated life of fifteen years; and (c) a new form of
grant known as a special grant to enable, at the local authority's discretion, the
installation of standard amenities in houses in multiple occupation, if necessary, with a
degree of sharing of amenities.
As a matter of policy, older type houses are inspected and when found to be suitable
for improvement information and advice is proffered to owners in the hope that they will
undertake improvement with the aid of the grants which are available. In fifteen cases a
favourable response was received and improvement schemes were carried out or put in
hand. With the increased levels of grant made available under the new Act better
results are looked for in the future in response to an intensified programme of
persuasion which will now be pursued.
During the year 157 Standard Grants and 25 Discretionary Improvement Grants were
paid, and by the end of the year the effects of the new Acl were already beginning to
show themselves as reflected in the increase in the number of applications for grants
submitted to the Council.
Area Improvement
Part II of the Housing Act 1969, confers upon local authorities powers to deal
with the improvement of living conditions in predominantly residential areas by
declaring General Improvement Areas. It is envisaged that in addition to securing
the improvement of the dwellings within the area, the authority should themselves
undertake works to improve the general environment. The type of improvement works
considered to be desirable are tree planting, providing play spaces, grassed or paved
areas, parking spaces and garages. It is also suggested that street lighting may be
renewed, road surfaces repaired and road patterns replanned. Certain financial
assistance will be made available to local authorities in respect of these works.
On the grounds that Part II of the Housing Act, 1964 which introduced for the
first time compulsory powers for the provision of satisfactory amenities in dwellings
in defined areas, had been found to be cumbersome in practice and did not enable an
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