Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]
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closing order, &c.) to the County Council. Should that body be
of opinion that the local authority have neglected their duty in
regard to any of the above matters, it may pass a resolution to
that effect, and then the powers of the local authority, as respects
the premises and building will vest in the Council, and if a closing
order, or an order for demolition is made, all the expenses incurred,
including any compensation paid, 'shall be a simple contract
debt to the Council from the Vestry or district board.' The
Council may, in exercising the powers of a Vestry, or on the
representation of a Vestry, or proprio motu, take proceedings for
preparing and obtaining confirmation of a scheme (as in section 5).
Expenses thus arising are to be borne by the County Fund, but
the Council, if it considers that part or all of the expenses should
be paid by a Vestry, may apply to a Secretary of State who
has power to order such payment or contribution to be made
by the Vestry. Sections 8 and 9 deal with the expenses of
the local authority, and with provisions as to borrowing. Section
10 gives the like effect, for the purposes of the Dwellings
Act, 1882, and Part I. of this Act, to a report from the medical
officer of a county, submitted to the County Council, and forwarded
by that Council to the local authority of any district in the county,
as to a report from the medical officer of health of the district.
Part II. (Amendment of Artizans and Labourers Dwellings
Improvement Acts and of Artizans Dwellings Acts) section
15, deals with the question of compensation in case of overcrowded
or insanitary premises, comprised in a scheme, with the object of
preventing excessive payment in cases where the rent is enhanced
by reason of the premises being injuriously overcrowded; in which
case compensation is to be based on a rental that would have
been obtainable if only a proper number of persons had inhabited
the premises. If the premises are in a bad sanitary state, or are
not in good repair, the amount of compensation is to be estimated
as their value if they had been put into a sanitary condition or
into good repair, after deducting the estimated expense of putting
them into such condition or repair. But if the premises are unfit,
and not reasonably capable of being made fit, for human habitation,