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36
In 1948, the points scheme was revised and special provision was
made by which those living in overcrowded accommodation were dealt
with under the general points scheme qualifying for additional points
because of the crowding. The same arrangements have continued by
which particulars of those needing to be rehoused because of the presence
of a member suffering from open tuberculosis, are referred direct by the
Medical Officer of Health. The generous allocation for those in this
group has resulted in all those families whose claims on these grounds were
greatest having been rehoused, and there are few such families now living
in accommodation in this district which is overcrowded to any great
degree.
There were numbers of houses which, although condemned before
the war, were still occupied. The worst of these have now been
demolished, the Council rehousing the tenants. Unfortunately, there
are many houses now being occupied which are utterly unfit for human
habitation and which must very shortly be represented for demolition.
The families in these houses stand no chance of obtaining other accommodation,
unless given it by the Council. On the other hand, rehousing of
these families will make great inroads on the limited numbers of houses
which the Council have, or are to have, for letting. Many of these
houses were in poor condition before the war. For many years now
they have had little attention and there must be many which cannot be
allowed to be occupied in their present state, and yet they cannot at a
reasonable cost be made fit.
Many of the families which were overcrowded have been rehoused
under the points scheme. On the other hand, there are quite a number
of families which, because of short residence here, have only a few points
and who therefore stand little chance, under present arrangements, of
reaching the position that they can hope to be rehoused by the Council;
and yet the overcrowding in some of these cases is of such a degree that
it is felt that living in such conditions cannot be other than injurious to
the health of the occupants.
SUPERVISION OF OTHER PREMISES
In addition to the work undertaken in securing the execution of
repair and improvement work in dwellings, routine inspections were
made of factories, cinemas, licensed premises and many other buildings
and sites. As a result it was possible, particularly in the case of watercourses
and vacant parcels of land, to take action that prevented unsatisfactory
conditions arising, whilst in other cases the inspections resulted in
improved methods or facilities being introduced.
Factories.
The following is a copy of the return made to the Ministry of Labour
and National Service giving information about the number of factories in
the district, the inspections made and the defects found :—