View report page

GRANTS
The Council supported the further representations of the
Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee to the Minister
that grants towards the cost of conversions should not be restricted
only to work carried out after an Order has been confirmed. It
was felt that in the general interests of clean air grants should be
payable before this date, especially where a local authority has
prepared a scheme for covering an area with a Smoke Control Order
and where the particular conversion or replacement is carried out
under the supervision of the local authority.
APPLIANCES
During the year the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
expressed the view that as with solid fuel approved appliances,
where the Council had an agreed limit of £5,0.0., a reasonable limit
should be placed upon the cost of electrical and gas appliances.
The Council agreed that the maximum cost of these fires
ranking for grant would be limited to £14.0.0. and £12.0.0. respectively,
subject to the full grant not being more than seven-tenths
of a reasonable solid fuel conversion or seven-tenths of a reasonable
electrical or gas conversion, whichever was the less.
HARDSHIP CASES
The Clean Air Act gives the Council discretion to pay greater
than seven-tenths grant where it considers this to be reasonable.
To cover cases of financial hardship, the Council decided to pay
the whole cost of reasonable works in the ease of owner/occupiers
who were Retirement Pensioners and who were also receiving National
Assistance, Twenty-five such payments were made during the year.
Twelve payments were made in respect of Retirement Pensioners who
although eligible for National Assistance were not applying for It.
In addition, the Council met the whole cost of reasonable works in
two special cases where the applicants, although not of pensionable
age, were in receipt of National Assistance.
CHURCHES, VOLUNTARY AIDED SCHOOLS, ETC.
The Council has discretion to pay such grant as it thinks fit
in respect of conversions In Churches, Church Halls, Voluntary Aided
Schools, etc. Following a recommendation of the Metropolitan
-45-