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did the Council refuse to issue a certificate of disrepair. Undertakings to do the work
were given by landlords in respect of 23 properties. Five certificates of disrepair were
issued and five cancelled on completion of the repairs.
Advice was given to tenants and they were able to purchase the necessary forms
at the Civic Centre.
The Council have issued several certificates of disrepair which included inter alia
defective fencing, and although this item was informally challenged on occasions by the
landlord the work was in each case carried out; where tenants included on their applications
defective electrical wiring a statement from the local Electricity Board or a competent
electrician, indicating the nature of the defects, was required.
Improvement Grants
Two types of grant are now available; the " discretionary " grant for the more
extensive forms of improvement towards the cost of which a grant up to £400 is available
and the " standard " grant (which has operated since June 1959) where little or no structural
alterations are necessary and a grant up to £155 is available towards the cost of the
five standard amenities (fixed bath in a bathroom, wash-hand basin, hot water supply,
water closet in or contiguous to the dwelling and satisfactory facilities for storing food).
The standard grant conditions have been designed to provide as simple a procedure as
possible. The new requirement that the fixed bath or shower should be in a bathroom
has caused the Council to consider the properties built between the wars (there may be
between 400 and 500 in the Borough) in which the bath is in a recess in the Living Room/
Kitchen; the fact that a W.C. compartment contiguous to the dwelling must be excluded
from a standard grant also causes some concern.
Applicants are always encouraged to make preliminary enquiries before any expense
is incurred. During the year enquiries were received in respect of 31 houses; in several
cases the improvements desired were not eligible for grant. 16 preliminary applications
were considered by the Council; two formal applications for standard grants were
approved. Two applications were refused, one because the Council hope to redevelop
the area within the next two years, the other because shop premises were an integral
part of the dwelling.
Tents, Vans and Sheds
As was the case last year no applications were received under the provisions of the
Public Health Act, 1936, Section 269.
There has been a slight decrease in the number of occasions in which gypsies have
pulled their vans onto vacant sites in an effort to spend a few days, at least, in the area.
The number of sites with easy access from the road is becoming less each year.
During the year inspectors paid 312 visits to various sites in connection with this
work.
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