View report page

Static display units were also arranged explaining improvement grants at the North Thames
Gas Board showroom, 165 High Street, Uxbridge, the South Ruislip Library, Victoria Road, South
Ruislip, and The Odeon Cinema, High Street, Uxbridge. The public relations officer arranged wide
distribution of improvement grant literature and 1,800 occupants of older houses were told about the
scheme and invited to attend the show houses.
There were 531 visitors to the houses and 131 written enquiries were made about the improvement
grant scheme. In addition 218 telephone enquiries for information on improvements were also
received during the period of the campaign. Unfortunately there were only four extra firm applications
for improvement grants afterwards.
A principal officer of the Department of the Environment visited the show houses on 4th May
and thought the scheme was excellent. Exhibitors in the show houses were:
The National Coal Board Fibreglass Ltd. (Insulation)
Rentokil Ltd. (Damp-proofing, woodworm treatment etc.) Southern Electricity Board
Peter Cox Ltd. (Damp-proofing) North Thames Gas Board
It was only possible to present this exhibition through the co-operation of the various departments
of the Council and the various exhibitors, whose help is gratefully acknowledged.
Repair (Housing and Public Health Acts)
The table on page 87 in the form shown is presented for statistical returns to the Department of
Environment and as the heading states relates to unfit houses of which there are few in Hillingdon.
Action to secure the repair of dwellings has been effected by the improvement grant scheme, by the
conditional requirement to carry out necessary repairs to obtain qualification certificates, by the
nuisances sections of the Public Health Act, and by the substantial repair provisions of the Housing
Act 1969. By these powers 381 houses were satisfactorily repaired.
MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
Again it is necessary to report that multiple occupation is on the increase but the Council's
policy wherever multiple occupation has been discovered has been pursued. There were 67 cases
discovered as against 36 in 1971 and more legal proceedings taken for contraventions. Every effort
is made to explain to immigrant arrivals and the Council's direction order procedure and pamphlets
are available in Urdu, Bengali and Hindi. The issue of direction orders does not necessitate eviction
and consequential hardship that would result, but controls multiple occupation and gradually
reduces it to acceptable standards. A contravention only takes place when an extra person (or
persons) comes to reside in a dwelling after a direction has been served and in excess of the limit
allowed in the direction.
During the year a talk was given to the Community Relations Association and the Council's
policy explained in detail. The newly appointed community relations officer will be very useful
to the department's officers in cases of translation or other difficulties involving immigrants.
86