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(2) The two-fold nature of Leyton's housing problem—long-term and
short-term.
The relative responsibilities of the two responsible committees, and
the need for the closest possible "liaison" between these
committees and their officers.
The powers delegated to the Public Health Committee, whose
responsibility it is to deal with the short-term housing need.
(3) Procedure under the Housing Act, 1936.
Its anomalies.
Its impractibility to deal effectively with houses unfit for habitation
and dangerous to health.
(4) Procedure under the Public Health Act, 1936.
Its limited scope.
Its use and abuse.
(5) Properties abandoned by owners.
Alternative methods of disposal:
(a) by demolition and closure; or
(b) by acquiring the property and carrying out works of
renovation and maintenance.
Factors to be considered.
(6) Difficulties likely to follow the termination of the War Damage
Subsidy.
Inability of the local sanitary authority either to repair or to demolish
certain types of insanitary dwellings.
The competing claims—Public Health and Planning—on available
new housing units.
The Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954.
Far from introducing new proposals calling for modification or reconsideration
of the views we expressed in our previous report, the relevant
provisions of the new Act show a practical appreciation of our difficulties by
facilitating official procedure for dealing with clearance areas and promoting
the repair of insanitary property.
The Report we now submit should therefore be regarded as a supplement
to our Report of last year on Future Housing Development.
SLUM CLEARANCE
What is a " Slum " ?
No definition of the word "slum" is contained in the Housing Acts,
1936-54; but in common usage the word connotes an area containing
insanitary houses which have reached the end of their useful life and are
unfit for human habitation to such a degree as to be beyond satisfactory and
economical repair, or houses which by reason of their bad arrangement or
narrowness or bad arrangement of the streets are dangerous or injurious to
the health of the inhabitants. The most satisfactory method of dealing with
conditions in a slum is by demolition of all the buildings.