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HOUSING
Progress with the modest slum clearance programme continued, in spite of the major
claims of houses in multiple occupation. During the year, Nos. 19 and 20, Featherstone
Terrace, and Nos. 15-29 (odd numbers inclusive) Norwood Road, were represented for
demolition, and Nos. 19 and 21, Norwood Road, were demolished. Nos. 25, 25a, St.
John's Road, and in the same building No. 16, Western Road, were represented for demolition,
but the Council accepted an undertaking which involved part demolition and major
reconstruction. Action on the proposed Area including 1-14, Buckingham Terrace and 1-3,
Clear View Cottages, was deferred for the acquisition of additional land for the development
of the Area.
Improvement Grants (Housing Act, 1949, as amended by the Housing (Financial Provisions)
Act, 1958, and the House Purchase and Housing Act, 1959, and the Housing Acts, 1961
and 1964)
Thirty-five applications were approved for grant for property improvement.
In all, up to the end of 1964, 214 of these Improvement Grants have been approved.
Certificates of Disrepair (Rent Act, 1957)
During the year, 3 applications were received and approved. One certificate of revocation
of a disrepair certificate was approved.
Overcrowding
Five cases of new overcrowding were confirmed. Thirty-six 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 12 dwellings, which is a decrease of thirty-one
on last year's figure. For further details, see Table XIII, page 75.
Re-Housing of Applicants for Council Dwellings
Council Housing within the Borough:
The number of families obtaining Council accommodation for the first time in 1964
was 55. Three old persons were rehoused from the waiting list and seven were transferred
from larger Council properties to smaller accommodation.
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 352, thirty-one
families having been rehoused in this way during 1964.
Modernisation of Council Houses
There were 426 houses built between 1930 and 1936 which stil had old ranges with
hot water supply, except where the tenants had installed modern firegrates. A new scheme
was commenced for the replacing of obsolescent grates in another section of the town.
A total of 442 houses had been modernised up to the end of December, 1964.
Bathrooms were provided and new grates and electrical power points were installed
in two old persons' bungalows in Saxon Gardens.
Bathrooms, modern grates and electrical power points were provided in two purchased
houses in Abbotts Road.
In eighty-four houses the obsolescent grates were replaced.
All old persons' dwellings have been provided with immersion heaters and the hot water
cylinders have been lagged.
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