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Environmental Health
79
(2) Discretionary Grants
Owner/occupier Tenanted
1. Number of applications received 2 —
2. Number of applications approved — —
3. Number of applications refused 2 —
4. Number of dwellings improved 2 5
Amount paid in grants £2,511 5s. 0d.
Average grant per house £358 15s. 0d.
The position as far as Improvement Areas is concerned in the Borough is as follows:—
Improvement Areas—Housing Act, 1964
Number of: 1. Areas (a) Surveyed 1
(b) Declared 1
2. Houses to be improved (a) full standard 41
(b) reduced standard 2
3. Preliminary Notices served 43
4. Undertakings accepted 8
5. Immediate improvement notices served 21
6. Suspended 11
7. Final —
8. Dwellings improved (a) full standard 2
(b) reduced standard —
9. Dwellings improved by L.A. in default
(a) full stanard —
(b) reduced standard —
Of the total number of houses in this area only one house had been improved as the result of
Notice by 31st December, 1966.
Although every effort is being made to improve houses by means of the legislation available it is
nevertheless a slow and cumbersome process. A much simpler method would be to extend the definition
of a fit house in Section 4 of the Housing Act, 1957—to include the standard amenities. If this were
done it would be possible to serve a Notice to provide the amenities exactly as is done for the repair
of an unfit dwelling.
Improvement Grants—Publicity
To stimulate interest in the Improvement Grant schemes the Ministry of Housing and Local
Government's Mobile Exhibition was stationed in various parts of the Borough in July, and was visited
by 960 people.
REPAIR, DEMOLITION, CLOSURE AND CLEARANCE
Repair (Housing and Public Health Acts)
During recent years housing defects have been remedied mainly by use of the nuisance provisions
of the Public Health Act, 1936. When urgent repairs have been necessary Section 26 of the Public
Health Act, 1961, has been used. Although by this action it is possible to remedy the more serious