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Preliminary consideration is also being given to the development of the site at
Rocklands in Gordon Road.
The Council are also at present making further endeavours to reduce underoccupation
in existing council dwellings and thereby making better use of their
accommodation.
The Public Health Department were actively concerned with housing applications,
in some cases supported by medical certificates, referred by the Borough Valuer and
Housing Officer for consideration of additional points on medical grounds, sanitary
circumstances and state of overcrowding. Additional points were recommended in
55 cases, special consideration was urged in 5 cases and the regrading of 3 elderly
persons suggested. Where the medical conditions merited urgent rehousing but the
award of "additional points" did not give immediate help the matter was submitted to
the Housing Committee for special consideration.
I wish to record that each and every housing application supported on public
health grounds received the fullest consideration by the Housing Committee.
Overcrowding
Eighteen new cases of statutory overcrowding as prescribed by the standard laid
down in the Housing Act, 1957, involving 47 adults and 37 children, were brought
to the attention of the department. Sixteen cases were removed from the register,
either having themselves obtained alternative accommodation or been rehoused by the
Council. The Council allocate additional points to a housing applicant where
statutory overcrowding exists.
Many families live in acute discomfort from overcrowding and yet do not fall within
the narrow confines of the standard, which is hardly surprising when one considers
that this was introduced 28 years ago in the Housing Act, 1935, and has been perpetuated
in the Acts of 1936 and 1957. It would seem high time that this inadequate
standard was reconsidered.
The Council, fully appreciating the stringent conditions of existing legislation,
adopt a more realistic approach when assessing housing needs by awarding points
on an ascending scale according to the insufficiency of bedroom accommodation.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
The local authority is empowered by the Housing Act, 1961, to serve a notice on a
person having control of a house in multiple occupation where, in their opinion, the
house is defective with respect to natural and artificial lighting, ventilation, water
supply, personal washing facilities, drainage and sanitary conveniences, facilities for
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