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41
Before the war, when an owner appeared before the Committee under
Section 11 procedure, it was with the object of saving his house. Since
the war the position has so changed that very often the owners ask for
an order to be made. So very often they have not the money to spend
on the work necessary to save the house so that they cannot submit
proposals for the work to be done which could save it and the Public
Health Committee has in these circumstances been able to do nothing but
make a Demolition Order. On many occasions this has resulted in the
loss of a housing unit which should have been saved. At different
times over the years the Public Health Committee have been faced with
such a problem, and has suggested that the Council should consider
acquiring these houses; but this suggestion has never been acted on.
The issue was raised at the meeting of the Council on the 12th October,
1956, when the following motion was tabled:—
" That this Council, concerned with the problem of the substandard
properties within the five year programme envisaged in the
recent proposals of H.M. Government, resolves to acquire condemned
properties in the Borough as and when opportunity offers, for
improvements to a reasonable habitable standard; and thereafter to
maintain them as Local Authority dwellings; this policy to be
supplemental to the Clearance and Redevelopment schemes already
proposed."
The matter was referred to all the Committees which were interested.
At their meeting on the 21st December, the Council resolved:—
" That this Council, concerned with the problem of the substandard
properties within the five year programme envisaged in
the recent proposals of H.M. Government, resolve to acquire certain
of these sub-standard properties in the Borough as and when opportunity
offers, for improvements to a reasonably habitable standard;
and thereafter to maintain them as Local Authority dwellings;
this policy to be supplemental to the Clearance and Redevelopment
schemes already proposed."
When a house which has to be condemned is one of a terrace, instead
of a Demolition Order a Closing Order can now be made. This avoids
the difficulties which follow on trying to demolish the premises. While
subject to the Order, the house is not to be lived in. There is, however,
now, nothing to prevent the owner submitting proposals of works which
will make the house fit and if these are practicable, the Public Health
Committee has to accept them. As long as the house is occupied, there is
no question of the owners doing this work. Once the house has become
empty however, usually by the family having been given a Council house,
it often becomes profitable for the owner to carry out substantial work
which can save the house and recoup himself by disposing of the house
with vacant possession.
Overcrowding
The annual review of the state of overcrowding in the district shows
at there has again been an improvement. As compared with 109 cases
nown on the 1st January, the number on the 31st December was 86.