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Of the statutory duties and responsibilities confronting the Local Authority, none
is more important, or, indeed, more onerous, than that which concerns obsolete housing.
The duties of the public health inspectorate are concerned generally with the repair,
demolition or closure of unfit houses, slum clearance, multiple occupation, and other
matters arising from the issue of certificates of disrepair under the Rent Act. Dwelling
houses are inspected as a general routine, or on complaint, and statutory action taken
as appropriate to secure the remedying of defects and abatement of nuisances.
Over the past twelve months, some 14,685 inspections and re-inspections were made
under the Public Health Acts, Housing and Rent Acts, Prevention of Damage by Pests Act,
and other legislation; 2,104 complaints regarding unsatisfactory conditions were
investigated, and 701 notices, specifying works to remedy defects such as dampness,
general disrepair, defective drainage, leaking roofs, etc. were served. In addition,
pursuant to the requirements of section 3 of the Housing Act, 1957, and the Housing
Consolidated Regulations, 1925/32, some 414 houses were surveyed to ascertain their
fitness for human habitation, having regard to the standard prescribed by the Act and
the possibility, or otherwise, of their being included in a slum clearance scheme or
dealt with by demolition or closing order procedure.
Legal proceedings arising from the failure of owners to comply with the requirements
of notices served under the nuisance abatement procedure of the Public Health Act
were initiated in 64 cases, and in 51 cases the work was completed, either before the
date of the hearing or after adjournment of the summonses. Such proceedings are not,
however, always successful in enforcing essential repairs; and in a number of instances
the Public Health Committee were obliged to consider alternative procedures under the
Housing Act.
During the year 3 applications under the Rent Act, 1957, for certificates of disrepair,
and 3 applications for certificates as to the remedying of defects etc. were
received and dealt with by the public health inspectorate; 4 notices (Form J) of the
Council's proposal to issue such certificates were served on landlords, arising out of
which 1 undertaking (Form K) to remedy defects specified thereon within a period of six
months, was submitted by the owners and accepted by the Council, and 3 certificates of
disrepair were issued.
The Council's phased programme in relation to slum clearance and re-development
continues to make satisfactory progress. Two further slum clearance schemes, consisting
of six separate clearance areas, and comprising some two hundred unfit houses, were
dealt with during the year and submitted to the Public Health Committee - the first
stage of the Cathall Road Area, and the Temple Mills Lane Area. Also, a detailed
inspection of a further two hundred dwelling houses in the second stage of the Cathall
Road Area is nearing completion, and it is hoped to submit a report in respect of this
area to the Public Health Committee early in the new year (1965).
A public local inquiry in respect of the Leyton Housing (Cathall Road Area No. 1)
Compulsory Purchase Order, 1964, was held in the Town Hall on Tuesday, 10th November.
The inquiry was ordered by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, to enable
persons who objected to their properties being included in the Compulsory Purchase
Order, either on the grounds that the houses were not unfit for habitation, or because
of personal or other business reasons, to be heard. The decision of the Minister at
the time of writing this report (January, 1965) had not been received.
It may be of interest to recall some of the points included in the report submitted
to the Public Health Committee, outlining the main and material conditions affecting
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