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and of these four were subsequently cancelled on the completion of the repairs. In one
case the tenant's original notification to the owner was not satisfactorily completed and
formal action by the Council was, therefore, impossible; the owner, however, gave an
informal undertaking to do the repairs. This was the only instance of a tenant's failure
satisfactorily to complete the necessary forms preventing the Council from taking the
appropriate action.
Advice was given to tenants and they were able to purchase the necessary forms
from the Civic Centre.
There are 186 dwellings in the Borough with a rateable value of over £40 per annum
and only one definite application was received by the Council's Housing Department
from a tenant who anticipated eviction when the property was decontrolled.
Improvement Grants
Applicants for improvement grants under the Housing Acts are encouraged to make
preliminary enquiries before any expense in, say, the preparation of plans, is incurred.
During the year enquiries were received in respect of 15 houses; in two cases the work
had been completed before the applications were made and in several of the others the
suggested improvements were either not eligible for a grant or the total cost was under
the minimum of £100.
Five applications were considered by the Council. One was refused because the
Council hoped to re-develop the area within the next 15 years. Grants (half the cost)
were made in respect of the other four houses; in each case the property was occupied
by the owner.
Tents, vans and sheds
Two applications under the provisions of the Public Health Act, 1936, Section 269,
were received in respect of caravans to be sited at gravel pits. Both applications were
refused.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948
Section 47
The surveillance of elderly persons who are unable properly to look after themselves
continues to receive the attention of the department. Compulsory removal was not
necessary in any case during the year.
Section 50
One person (male 48 years) was buried under the provisions of this Section.
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