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It remains a source of pride that at the time of writing no
child has been received into the care of the Authority on account
solely of eviction from Council property, while many families who
would have previously been homeless are being sustained in
peimanent housing or long-term rehabilitation units, albeit at
not insignificant cost. It has further been possible to discharge
a number of children from the care of the Council and to
permanently re-house families from temporary accommodation and
long-term rehabilitation units.
Much work has been done to assess the Housing
circumstances in the Borough generally. The position was
reviewed in a report to the Council in November 1969 which
incorporated not only an assessment of the requirements for building
new Council houses, but also a preliminary review of the state of
existing dwellings in the private and public sectors. Important
policy decisions were subsequently adopted by the Council as
follows:-
(a) That the current Council policy of making a contribution to
the housing needs of Greater London, as well as Sutton, be
re-affirmed.
(b) That loans for house purchase continue to be made by the
Council to the widest possible extent.
(c) That for the time being the present policy of not selling
Council dwellings built to let except in very special cases
be maintained.
(d) That the sale of Council-owned land for private housing be
agreed wherever this does not prejudice the Council's own
future land requirements but the sale of such land to other
local authorities be agreed only in exceptional cases.
(e) That, subject to review annually, the building of further
dwellings to let in accordance with the estimated housing
needs referred to above be approved and, in the programme,
priority be given to building for health and welfare needs.
(f) That the activities of Housing Associations be further
encouraged by making loans and grants to them for general as
well as specialised housing needs and by making land
available for development by Housing Associations, particularly
where the Council are in a better position to purchase
the land and combine small parcels of land into larger areas
suitable for residential development.
(g) That more positive and vigorous steps be taken to increase
the use of loans and improvement grants to (l) add to the
existing stock of dwellings by conversions and (2) conserve
the existing stock of dwellings by the provision of the
standard amenities.
(h) That a more positive and vigorous policy with regard to
under-occupation be adopted.
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