View report page

106
Improvement grants may also be given towards the cost of
dividing a large house into self-contained flats, where the Council
considers that the house is not suitable for use by a single family.
The normal maximum grant in respect of each dwelling improved
(or provided by conversion) is one-half of the approved expense up
to a maximum of either £1,000 in the case of a Discretionary Improvement
Grant or £200 in the case of a Standard Grant.
In co-operation with the Housing Committee a house was improved
and opened to the public to demonstrate what could be done with the
aid of a grant. The exhibition was an unqualified success with over
1000 visitors in one week.
Despite the real increase in the amount of grant available,
finance is still a limiting factor. The Council offers all the
assistance possible in the particular circumstances of a case, and
has widened their assistance to include maturity loans under the
new Act, which will be of particular benefit to elderly people who
would otherwise find it difficult or even impossible to repair or
improve their homes.
The new Act also enables the Council to declare General Improvement
Areas into which special effort and resources can be directed to
improve houses and where possible also the environment. This
responsibility has been placed with the Health and Welfare Committee
and a working party of officers has been established to make
recommendations.
Controlled tenancies which meet a qualifying standard or
improved dwellings can be converted to regulated tenancy and consequent
increase in rent assessed by the Rent Officer. Very many
applications for certificates have been received and the work involved
will place a considerable burden on Public Health Inspectors in 1970.
Movable Dwellings.
Licences under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act,
1960 have been issued for 36 caravans which are stationed on the
Riverhill Estate.
There are nine effective Orders under the Surrey County Council
Act in force in the Borough prohibiting the parking of movable
dwellings.