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HOUSING
Of the 83 houses included in the provisional programme of slum clearance submitted
to the Minister of Health in 1955, 19 still remain to be dealt with. A further five years
programme of 72 houses was approved by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
on the 17th August, 1961. During 1961 one house was closed by undertaking to use by
way of business only and four almshouses were demolished on the operation of demolition
orders.
Improvement Grants (Housing Act, 1949, as amended by the Housing (Financial Provisions)
Act, 1958).
Thirty-eight applications were received and thirty-eight were approved for grant for
property improvement.
The improvements in standards of housing resulting from the use of this type of grant
and from the repair conditions by which increased rents can be obtained under the Rent
Act, 1957, make a useful, although very slow, advance in the attainment of good environmental
conditions for healthy living.
In all up to the end of 1961 only 117 of these applications have been approved.
Certificates of Disrepair (Rent Act, 1957)
During the year 9 applications were received, 9 proposals to issue certificates were
approved. Two certificates of revocation of the disrepair certificate were approved.
Overcrowding
More visits were required in 1961 to be paid for estimation of overcrowding and
fourteen cases of new overcrowding were confirmed. Thirty-nine cases of overcrowding
were relieved during the year. The number remaining on the Department's register of
overcrowding at the end of the year was 35 dwellings, which is a decrease of twenty-five on
last year's figure. For further details see Table XII, page 63.
Rehousing of Applicants for Council Dwellings
Council Housing within the Borough
The number of families obtaining Council accommodation for the first time in 1961
was 59. Twenty-three old age pensioners, or pension age married couples, were moved
into old people's dwellings.
New Town Housing
The total number of families removing to New or Expanded Towns: 25 families nominated
under the Industrial Selection Scheme up to April, 1956 (since when the Council
has had to pay subsidy for every family moving from this Borough to New or Expanded
Towns). In addition 50 families who had found their own accommodation in one of the
New Towns were subsequently accepted as Council nominees. The total number of
families who have moved to New or Expanded Towns since that date is a further 260,
forty-five families having been rehoused in this way during 1961.
Modernisation of Council Houses
There were 426 houses, built between 1930 and 1936, which still had old ranges with
hot water supply, except where the tenents themselves installed modern fireplaces. Fiftynine
of these ranges were replaced by the Council during 1961, making a total of 289 modernised
up to the 31st December, 1961. Two houses purchased by the Council were improved
by the provision of bathrooms.
Houses Let in Lodgings
At the end of the year 249 houses had been ascertained to be in multiple occupation.
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