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The fourteen prosecutions for contraventions of the
Directions given under Section 19 of the Housing Act
1961 were all successful. Fines totalling £275 were
imposed and a total of £78 costs awarded to the Council.
Six prosecutions for fai lure to comply with notices
served under Sections 15 and 16 of the Housing Act 1961
were also successful. Fines totalling £410 were imposed
and £131 costs awarded to the Council.
There was one prosecution for failure to carry out works
required by Sections 15 and 16 after a previous conviction.
A fine of £100 was imposed and £10 costs awarded to the
CounciI.
Three appeals to Quarter Sessions against convictions
for offences under Sections 15 and 16 were dismissed. In
one case the fines were reduced from £1 00 to £10 and in
the other two additional costs totalling £80 were awarded.
In one case under Section 19 (9) of the Housing Act 1961
for failure to supply information as to occupants a fine of
£5 was imposed with £2 costs plus £4 interpreters fee.
Improvement Grants
The number of Improvement Grants approved during the
year increased substantial ly from the 181 totalling
£90,206 in 1970 to 309 totalling £232,844. Standard
grants increased from 58 totalling £7,503 in 1970 to 69
totalling £8,633. These grants are not expected to vary
greatly in number but improvement grants will certainly
continue to rise sharply in number and value as a result
of publicity and to some extent of increases in wages
and cost of materials due to inflation.
This increased work has been dealt with by a staff which
has been under strength since 1970 due to difficulty in
filling vacancies.
In anticipation of the London House Improvement
Campaign planned for April/May 1972, the appointment
of additional staff has been approved and a reorganisation
recommended which it is hoped will enable applications
to be dealt with more expeditiously.
Survey Work
The Acton Town Centre Survey continued to occupy the
Improvement Grant Staff during the year and despite the
increase in work already mentioned was substantially
complete by the end of the year.
Qualification Certificates
617 Qualification Certificates were issued during the year
following the completion of repairs by owners. A further
663 premises had been inspected and were awaiting
completion of repairs and 250 applications were withdrawn
or refused during the year. The majority of these inspections
were carried out by the District Public Health
Inspectors, and the remainder by Improvement Grant Staff.
Certificates of Provisional Approval and Qualification
Certificates necessary where rent controlled dwellings
lack the standard amenities prescribed by the Housing
Act 1969 are often applied for at the same time as grant
aid is sought towards the cost of the work. 52 Qualification
Certificates were issued upon completion of the
improvement and repair works and a further 240 cases had
been provisionally approved and await completion of the
work. 17 applications were withdrawn or refused for
various reasons.
All applications of this type are in respect of tenanted
properties and the interest of property owners and
managing agents demonstrates the encouragement given by
the grant aid available.
London House Improvement Campaign
This campaign sponsored by the Department of the
Environment, is planned to take place in April and May
1972 and is intended to encourage and expedite the
improvement of the existing housing stock. The participation
by this Council in the campaign was considered
towards the end of the year and it is expected that this
will take the form of making show houses available to the
general public, together with a large-scale programme of
local advertising and publicity to supplement the general
publicity in London by the Department of the Environment.
Medical Aspects of Council Housing
Applicants for Council accommodation, or those who wish
to transfer from one Council house to another, often
require special consideration because of the disability
or illness of some member of the family. Before such
consideration can be given it is necessary for a medical
certificate to be furnished and these are usually sent to
the Housing Manager. He then seeks advice on the
medical implications and forwards any relevant information
that he has already obtained. After assessment
additional points may be awarded or a special report
presented to the Housing Committee.