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16
As with the closing hours for shops, offices, etc., it seems that
many residents will always leave doing what is necessary until the last
minute, in spite of reminders. It is very difficult, administratively, to
ensure that there is an even flow of work for the limited staff available
and it would not be economic to employ extra staff to deal with the
periodic rush of applications. The services of the Public Health
Inspectors can usually be utilized at such periods, but in November
and December they were actively engaged in dealing with an outbreak
of mild dysentery.
The necessity to follow the strict procedure laid down, especially
in regard to the dates within which expenditure needs to be incurred,
is an irksome requirement of the Smoke Control Area Grants scheme.
All concerned with the implementation of the scheme agree that
amendments in procedure are necessary but, in view of the fact that
certain requirements were written into the Clean Air Act, 1956, the
rules cannot be altered except by the enormous trouble and delay
entailed in amending the Act itself.
It is expected that the programme for Smoke Control Areas, to
cover the whole of the Borough by 1968, will be implemented without
undue delay.
SECTION 'D' — HOUSING
The number of complaints received in connection with housing
defects was again much lower than the prewar figures. With the
spread of decontrol the new tenancies are usually the subject of new
agreements whereby the occupiers are taking an increasing responsibility
for maintenance repairs. Tenants who have always been
accustomed to look to landlords for every item of repair, including
burst pipes and decorations, are astonished at the present day cost of
even minor repairs. Unfortunately the tenancy agreements referred
to rarely provide for the landlord to make good the neglect of years
before passing on the liability for maintenance to the tenants, and
much friction develops as a result.
It has been noticed that where rents have not been raised to Rent
Act levels the tenants are chary of complaining about defects and it
may be necessary to carry out more routine house to house surveys to
prevent the deterioration which would otherwise follow.
As will be seen from the table on page 38 there were only two
applications for Certificates of Disrepair and only one Certificate was
actually issued. Few controlled tenants care to antagonise owners and
this procedure is now little used or forgotten.
Where house to house inspections have been made we were rather
surprised to find that the defects noted were, though numerous, of a
relatively trivial character. Lack of paint and the untidiness of front