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HOUSING
The importance of good housing in relation to good health cannot
be overstressed and there is no falling off in the numbers of housing
applications from the public. Apart from the general housing need
there is growing demand and serious shortage of planned homes for the
aged, the infirm and handicapped. Elderly persons prefer to retain
their independence in their own homes and to enable them to do so
they require small units of modern construction sited near shops and
buses.
Your Council houses are let to applicants on a points code, and
the scheme operated allows me to recommend priority to those suffering
from illhealth. Persons who suffer from Tuberculosis are granted the
maximum priority and lesser degrees of priority can be given in respect
of persons with other disabilities. This latter authority is used
cautiously because if widely used it affords relatively less priority to
those most needing it.
Mr. C. Hetherington, Housing Officer, has kindly supplied the
following information:—
Total number of Council Properties 4,500
Total number of applicants on the housing waiting list 1,864
Applications received during 1960 638
Medical certificates claiming priority submitted to the
Housing Department during the year 300
Lettings during 1960:—
New houses and flats 225
Properties re-let 172
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