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House-to-House Inspection and Multiple Occupation
House-to-house inspection was carried out during the year. Although hampered by shortage of staff
and the difficulty of carrying out 'work in default', a great deal of work was done in combating multiple
occupation to secure the provision of amenities and general repair. This is a most time-consuming project
and many additional public health inspectors would have to be recruited before any appreciable inroads into
the problem could be made.
Seventy-nine notices under section 15, Housing Act, 1961, requiring the provision of additional
amenities, and 60 directions under section 19 of the Act to overcome overcrowding in houses in multiple occupation
were served.
Overcrowding
There has been little change in the extent of overcrowding which still remains prevalent.
The Housing Manager has kindly supplied the details of overcrowding in the area, which have been
based mainly on statements of housing applicants (Table 29), and also details of new dwellings constructed
during the year (Table 30).
Applicants to the Council for mortgage for the purchase of a house, can submit a medical certificate
or a certificate of overcrowding in support of the application. These certificates are assessed and information
given to the Housing Advances Sub-Committee to assist this Committee in discriminating at the medicail
level.
Housing on Medical Grounds
Each medical certificate and all medical evidence provided in support of an application for rehousing,
is submitted for assessment, and points may be granted up to a maximum of 5 in respect of a medical
claim. The medical part of the evidence is carefully examined and, in order to achieve uniformity, the whole
of these assessments are made by one individual officer. It is possible for the Medical Officer to recommend
a separate bedroom if requisite and in case of exceptionally severe illness a recommendation may be made
that the case is brought to the immediate attention of the Committee.
Notices served under the Public Health Acts, 1936 and 1961, and Housing Acts, 1957 and 1961
There was a considerable increase in the number of statutory notices served during the year, compared
with 1965 (Table 31).
No Management Orders under Section 12, Housing Act, 1961, were served during the year.
Nuisances abated and Improvements effected
A summary of nuisances abated and improvements effected in dwelling houses is shown in Table 32.
Rent Act, 1957
Details of the applications received and the certificates issued up to the end of the year are shown in
Table 33.
Work in Default
The Department assumes responsibility for carrying out work when owners do not comply with the
requirements of Statutory Notices served under the Housing, Public Health and various other Acts.
Two technical assistants were appointed and in January took over the work from the Borough
Engineers Department.
CLEAN AIR
Two Smoke Control Areas became operational during the year. The No. 1 (Tokyngton) covering
505 acres with 3,929 dwellings and 414 commercial and other premises was confirmed by the Minister of
Housing and Local Government on the 28th December, 1965 and come into operation on the 1st July, 1966.
The No. 2 (Kilburn) covering 201 acres with 2,879 dwellings and 170 commercial and other premises was
confirmed by the Minister on the 29th April, 1966 and came into operation on the 1st December, 1966.
The 20 Orders now in operation are shown in Table 34.
On the 5th October, 1966, the Council made the Brent No. 3 (Kingsbury) Smoke Control Order
covering 460 acres with 4,292 dwellings and 108 commercial and other premises. This area will probably
come into operation on the 1st August, 1967.
The programme approved by the Council involving ten more Smoke Control Areas will be completed
in 1971 and the whole Borough will then be a Smoke Control Area.
The volumetric analysis of sulphur dioxide and measurement of smoke concentration has continued
at six stations.
Forty-eight notifications of new boiler plant were received in accordance with the provisions of Section
3 of the Clean Air Act and the heights of new chimneys were determined in 27 cases.