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The Housing Act 1961, particularly its powers in respect of Houses
in Multiple Occupation, has brought a great number of houses in the
Borough within the scope of the Department to ensure better standards
of management and the provision of additional amenities in these properties.
The formation of an expanded housing section in the Department
to survey houses in multiple occupation, and assist landlords in their
schemes for conversion, is already bearing fruit in a growing number of
such houses being regularly inspected to ensure better standards.
Management orders are being made, as required. The task is time-consuming,
relying as it does on persuasion in the first instance, and because
of the absence of any minimum statutory standard of essential amenities
written into the standard of fitness.
In order that improvements to substandard property might be accelerated
in this area the definition of standard of fitness contained in
Section 4 of the Housing Act, 1957, should be so amended that a house is
deemed to be not suitable for occupation unless reasonable amenities are
provided therein.
To turn to a more comforting and encouraging aspect of the year's
work, services for the care of the aged have been improved. The number
of old people supplied with meals at clubs, or at home, continues to
increase - thanks to the excellent work of The Stepney Old People's
Welfare Association, and the purpose-built kitchen and club of the Women's
Voluntary Service. With the decision of the Council to take over, as
from April 1st 1963, the financial provision of this service, and using
further powers now available, it is hoped to plan the integration of an
invalid meals service within the existing old people's meals service.
The Council has increased its subsidy to the flourishing Workroom for
the Elderly which continues to run under a voluntary committee in premises
owned by the Borough Council. The wisdom of setting up a Holiday Centre
at Sandgate ensures that 18 Old Age Pensioners weekly can enjoy a cheap
holiday away from Stepney under excellent conditions. The remaining 18
places filled as they are in the season by young family groups, maintains
an all-age group clientele which is appreciated by most residents.
For some time, a survey of old people in the Borough has been
discussed. Whilst this has not been possible under statutory authority,
young people's groups of different religious affiliations are making
door-to-door surveys in selected parts of the area. Their work may not
be statistically valid by the standards of a professional social survey
yet they have revealed old people in need. At the same time they have
acquired an awareness of community problems, knowledge of which is likely
to prove more beneficial in terms of human relationships than an arid
scientific investigation.
The Consultant Chest Physician., Dr. R.M. Orpwood, contributes a
general item on Tuberculosis in Stepney, on page 48 of the report. There
has been some improvement over the year, but with the added problems that
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