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attention to the necessity of the provision of more hospital beds for
the aged in the area. I make no apologies for again drawing the
attention of the Council and the various interested bodies to my
remarks. I should point out here that the Council have in recent years
provided, directly or indirectly, 228 flatlets or dwellings for the aged
and will provide a further 46 places in the near future ; sufficient
evidence of the Council's concern in this matter. Housing is inevitably
bound up with medical care and it is but reasonable to suggest that
this large programme of housing for the elderly should be backed up
by adequate hospital facilities. It follows also that Middlesex County
Council as the Welfare Authority must bear an increased responsibility
for the provision of a sufficient number of places in Old Persons'
Homes for those Council tenants who through illness or advancing
age become incapable of caring for themselves. The Council's housing
programme also includes the provision of accommodation for the
physically handicapped. It can be seen from this that the Council's
housing commitments are wide, and with an increasing birth rate over
the past 2 years consideration will no doubt have to be given to the
provision of family homes. Apropos of this, I have noticed an increasing
development of maisonettes and mini-houses throughout the
Borough. No doubt there is a demand for this smaller type of modern
property, but it is to be hoped that in future years they will not
become congested or overcrowded by family occupation.
The increase of houses let in multiple occupation should be noted,
and it appears that existing legislation controlling these premises is
unsatisfactory, the greatest difficulty being caused by owners who
avoid their obligations and the local authority arc unaware of the
circumstances until a housing problem has been created. A number
of such problems occurred during 1960.
The Noise Abatement Act of 1960 became law towards the end
of the year. This Act deals with noise which is a nuisance but as yet,
little experience of the working of the Act has been obtained.
Finally, the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government
in Greater London was published towards the end of 1960, and
one must admire the thoroughness with which the Commisioners have
carried out their work. The Report itself is very readable and whether
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