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PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS
There are two open air swimming baths in the Borough. The water is taken from
the mains of the South Essex Waterworks Company. The method of treatment is
continuous filtration and sterilisation; the period of turnover is four hours. Bacteriological
examination of samples has indicated satisfactory conditions.
HOUSING
Slum Clearance
During the year a further six houses were represented as unfit for human habitation.
The Council have agreed that the slum clearance programme for the five years commencing
in 1961 should include some no properties.
Rent Act, 1957
14 applications were received from tenants during the year compared with 39 in
the previous year. In no case did the Council refuse to issue a certificate of disrepair.
Undertakings to do the work were given by landlords in respect of six properties. Five
certificates of disrepair were issued and four cancelled on the completion of repairs.
Advice was given to tenants and they were able to purchase the necessary forms at
the Civic Centre. The Council have continued to issue certificates of disrepair which
included, inter alia, defective fencing; 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 and Conversion Grants
Two types of grant are now available; the "discretionary" grant for the more
extensive forms of improvement or conversion towards the cost of which a grant up to
£400 is available, and the "standard" grant 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
requirement that the fixed bath should be in a bathroom has resulted in a number of
enquiries from the owner / occupiers of properties built between the wars 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 the standard grant has caused some
concern; it appears that this condition is to be amended.
Applicants are always encouraged to make preliminary enquiries before any expense
is incurred. During the year many enquiries were received; in several cases the improvements
desired were not eligible for grant. 20 applications for standard grants and
five for discretionary grants were approved; one application to convert a large house
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