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The disinfestation of the furniture and other effects belonging to the families is carried out on
the day of their removal to the new house under the agreement existing between the Willesden Borough
Council and the Kensington Borough Council. The cost of disinfestation is proving to be a little higher
than was anticipated. It was estimated that one van would be capable of removing the furniture, etc.,
of two families, but the experience, so far, is that the belongings of one family only make up a load.
The following clearance areas have been acquired or negotiations are proceeding for their
acquisition under the Compulsory Purchase Orders confirmed by the Minister of Health :—
(1) Alpha Place North.
(2) Alpha Mews.
(3) Pembroke Place.
(4) Park Mews.
(5) Park Road Mews.
(6) Cambridge Mews East.
(7) Cambridge Mews West.
The Council have plans for the future development of Alpha Place North, Alpha Mews, Cambridge
Mews West and Park Road Mews for housing and educational purposes. So far the Council have not
indicated the future use of the other areas mentioned above but their future development is a matter
for the Housing and Town Planning Committee.
The provision of trade accommodation for displaced costers and small street traders is also
under consideration by the Housing and Town Planning Committee.
The Committee will remember that the payment of compensation for trade disturbance as
provided for in Section 41 of the Housing Act, 1930, has been agreed upon in principle by the Council
but the final figures have been left for settlement when all claims have been received.
Housing Act, 1935.
In compliance with Section 6 (2) of the Housing Act, 1935, the measurement of working-class
houses to ascertain the number constituting the " permitted number " for each dwelling is proceeding.
From 1st April, 1936, to 9th September, 1936, the number of dwellings so measured is 4,274. The
total number to be measured is approximately 39,000.
Acting under Section 6 (2) a number of landlords and agents have made application to the
Department for information as to the " permitted number " applicable to the dwellings they control.
To comply with these requests as soon as they are received, the staff has to be diverted from the routine
of door-to-door visitation and measurement with consequent loss of time. It is suggested that the
answer to these applications be deferred in the case of large blocks of property scattered throughout
the district until the routine inspections reveal the whole of the information required by the applicant.
The fixing of an " appointed day," six months after which the enforcement of the overcrowding
provisions will commence, is in the hands of the Minister of Health. According to Circular 1539,
dated 7th May, 1936, the Minister will fix the " appointed day " after considering :—
(a) the extent of the overcrowding as disclosed by the survey ; and
(b) the time likely to elapse before a substantial amount of the overcrowding can be
remedied.
The extent of the overcrowding in the district showed that some 978 new houses were required.
The provision of this number of houses is in the hands of the Housing and Town Planning Committee
and it will be seen from the magnitude of the work to be done that some considerable time must elapse
before the Minister is satisfied that a " substantial amount of the overcrowding can be remedied."
In these circumstances it is unlikely that the " appointed day " will be fixed in Willesden for some time
and the duty of the landlords to insert a statement of the " permitted number " in their rent-books
would not appear to be an urgent one save in cases of vacant houses which it is desired to re-let to not
more than the " permitted number " of occupiers.
The " Report on the Overcrowding Survey in England and Wales, 1936 " is now published.
It is a document of much interest, forming the first attempt in this country to put on record certain
information as to the extent of overcrowding and house shortage. Apart from the picture it reveals
of the extent and incidence of overcrowding, it is of interest as a means of comparing one area with
another. The percentage of overcrowded families in Willesden is 4-12% as compared with 4-9% in
the County of Middlesex and 3-8% for England and Wales.
It is interesting to note that in addition to the 1,845 families overcrowded in Willesden at the
time of the survey, 1,455 families were housed at the minimum standard.
The Report shows the additional cost of the survey in various areas and it is to be noted that
the additional cost to Willesden amounted to £18 per 1,000 dwellings inspected as compared with £25
in the County of London and £41 in Manchester. In only three of the areas mentioned in the Report
did the additional cost fall below the Willesden figure, viz., £11 per 1,000 in Walthamstow (Essex),
£17 in Swinton and Pendlebury (Lanes.), and £16 in March (Cambs.).
Conclusion.
It will be observed from the foregoing notes that the Housing Act, 1930-35, Committee has
completed its terms of reference and that the measurement of the houses will proceed automatically
as a piece of departmental work.