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37
The Council took early steps to fulfil its duties under the
Act and a special temporary staff was appointed in the month
of December to carry out the preliminary survey of all houses
in the Borough occupied by or fit for the occupation of the
working classes.
It was estimated that some 8,000 to 9,000 houses and flats
would need to be surveyed for this purpose, and the result of
this work and the proposals of the Council to meet the situation
will of course have to be dealt with in a future report.
While of course such legislation was overdue, the difficulties
of the Council in dealing with the "housing problem" are likely
to be considerably increased, having regard to the fact that our
Borough is practically a "built up" area and very little land
is available for building purposes to meet the situation.
Continued progress has been made with the putting into
effect of the scheme prepared by the Council and submitted to
the Ministry of Health for dealing with the "slum clearance"
problem, as required by the Housing Act, 1930. Here again
progress would have been more rapid but for the difficulty of
obtaining suitable sites for the erection of houses to accommodate
persons likely to be displaced.
During the year under review a further 28 houses,
comprised in four Clearance or Compulsory Purchase Orders,
were dealt with. In addition two individual houses were dealt
with under Section 19 of the Act and demolition orders made.
With reference to the Orders above referred to, an appeal
was lodged in respect of one Clearance Order made. A public
enquiry was ordered but, by reason of the Council deciding to
alter its policy and proceed for a Compulsory Purchase Order,
the enquiry was not then proceeded with.