View report page

59
the Committee a letter I had received, dated September 15th, of the London
Housing Commissioner, referring to the forthcoming survey of the District,
and stating that: "It is essential that as soon as the provision of new houses
is sufficiently advanced, the Local Authority should be in a position to deal
" comprehensively with houses unfit for human habitation and with insanitary
areas." Further, he asked for my help with a thorough survey of the
existing conditions as regards housing in Edmonton, and for copies of my Annual
Reports for the past nine years. The Council passed a resolution asking for
sanction from the Ministry of Health to a loan of £60,000 to purchase the Hyde
Estate. It was understood that the Council's liability of a penny rate would
extend to the period covered by the loan.
On November 10th the Clerk and Engineer, with two Councillors, interviewed
the London Housing Board to discuss the raising of a loan. The Board
was told that £500,000 were required to enable us to proceed with the first
500 houses, but that eventually £2,000,000 would be required to complete the
scheme for the erection of 2,000 houses. The Board suggested that the loan
for the land be raised apart from that for the houses, and that for the former,
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners be approached; also that after the Ministry
of Health's sanction had been obtained, terms for £500,000 should be invited
by advertisement, on the security of the General District Rate, the subsidy
from the Government to commence with the first financial year during which
expenses are incurred.
On November 13th the Ministry of Health sent sanction for loan of £60.000
for the purchase of the Hyde Estate, and on November 25th the Council accepted
the offer of the owners to lend the money at 6% interest for 80 years, repayable
by half-yearly instalments of principal and interest combined, and resolved
that the Ministry of Health be asked for sanction to borrow £500,000 for erecting
500 houses.
On the 25th November the Education Committee asked the Council to
provide sites on the Hyde Estate for a Central School and two elementary ones;
this request was referred to the Housing and Town-Planning Committee.
The Housing and Town Planning Committee reported on 26th November
(submitted to the Council on December 23rd) that the lay-out plan of the Hyde
Estate had been put before them by the Engineer, that the Committee be
granted full powers to act, and the Committee be enlarged by co-opting three
married women in an advisory capacity. This report was referred back.
On 25th August, 1920, I received this note from our Engineer:—"A
Housing Scheme has been drawn up for Edmonton, providing for 1,700 to 1,800
houses, containing from three to six rooms excluding the scullery. The site
occupies a little over 170 acres, and is situated on the easterly side of the district,
between Victoria Road and Firs Lane, and is already partly sewered and several