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29
Rent. The Old People's Rent Scheme provides that each tenant
qualifying shall pay a net weekly rent of 10 per cent of the weekly gross
income or the minimum rent for the property as calculated under the
Council's Main Rents Scheme, whichever is the smaller sum, exclusive
of general and water rates. To qualify, the tenant must have reached
normal retirement age; a sole tenancy must exist, though joint tenancies
between husband and wife or between two persons of companionable
age shall be admitted; no occupant other than the tenant and/or spouse
to be resident; the total gross income of the occupants must not exceed
£7 per week and no rent allowance is being received from the National
Assistance Board.
Luncheon Clubs. The General Purposes Committee, at their
meeting in November, agreed in principle to the provision of an old people's
meals centre in the Queensbury area. The suggestion is to erect a prefabricated
building on part of the land in Roch Avenue acquired by the
Council for permanent allotments, the building to be erected for use as
an assembly hall for letting to the Harrow Old People's Welfare Committee
for an old people's luncheon club, and for general lettings at other times.
The two luncheon clubs continued as on previous lines and at their
June meeting the General Purposes Committee recommended the Council
to authorise the making of a contribution at the rate of £1,150 per annum
for the financial year ending 31st March, 1960, in respect of the operation
by the Harrow Old People's Welfare Committee of a kitchen and restaurant
for old people's meals at each of the North Harrow and the Belmont
assembly halls, including the provision of meals for serving to infirm old
people through the W.V.S. Meals on Wheels Service, it being understood
that £400 of the grant is to cover £260 per annum to be made for the use
of the North Harrow and Belmont assembly halls and the estimated cost
of gas and electric power.
Meals on Wheels. The number of people who can be helped by
the Meals on Wheels Service was increased by the gift of a mobile canteen
by the Greater Harrow District Nursing Association Trust. The Council
made a grant of £230 towards the running costs of the vehicle.
Chiropody. For the last two years, the Council contributed £100
per annum to the expenses of the Harrow Old People's Welfare Committee
in providing in co-operation with the Harrow and Northwood Division
of the British Red Cross Society, a chiropody service for needy old folk
in the Borough. The Council at their meeting in June authorised the
payment of a like amount during the financial year ending 31st March,
1960, While most of the treatment is given to persons who can visit
the clinics, arrangements are made for treatment in their homes of those
who are homebound. In spite of grants from the Harrow Council and
the Middlesex County Council, and one from the National Corporation
for the Care of Old People, the British Red Cross Society runs this
service at a financial loss.
For many years now organisations interested in the welfare of old
People have pressed that arrangments be made by which they could