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65
H 0 U S I K G
The volume of work in connection with housing continues unabated.
During the year progress was made with the implementation of the clearance
of Fairfield Place, including the Public Inquiry when the Compulsory
Purchase Order was confirmed and detailed inspections were carried out in
the Elm Crescent Area of Kingston upon Thames prior to a report being
submitted to the Council.
During the year no less than 334 houses were repaired as a result of
informal action by the officers and 11 demolition or closing orders were
made.
Houses in multiple occupation have continued to receive limited
attention only and in the course of the year 24 informal and 18 statutory
notices were served requiring works, notably for additional facilities
and in connection with means of escape from fire„
It is pleasing to note the continuing interest in grants for the
conversion of the larger type of house into suitable self contained flats
and some of the properties concerned are the large Victorian houses which
had for a number of years previously been used in multiple occupation,
often accompanied by poor living conditions for the occupants.
Grants for these conversions are made up to half the cost of works
as approved by the Council, subject to a maximum of £1,000 per dwelling
produced by the conversion (£1,200 per dwelling in the case of a building
of three or more storeys).
Following upon the completion of appropriate works by the Council to
its own houses, grant payments from the Exchequer were received in respect
of 39 dwellings, and approval received from the Secretary of State for the
Environment in two other cases.
As in the past year the concentrated effort on the improvement of
houses was continued and General Improvement Areas at Thorne Road, New
Maiden and Mill Street, Kingston upon Thames, were the subject of public
meetings presided over by the Mayor and attended by a very large number
of residents from the localities. In each case there was lively discussion
and constructive observations were made by the residents and there followed
considerable press publicity. At Mill Street the residents elected their
own Committee which closely collaborated with the officers of the Council
to recommend the improvements to the satisfaction of all concerned. Other
areas of the borough are being surveyed but the problems of staff and time
required to do the detailed work present difficulties in departments where
the staff are limited in number.