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SLUM CLEARANCE
Camden's slum clearance programme for the period 1966/70 comprises 516 dwellings. During
1966, Clearance Orders were made in respect of three areas comprising a total of 16 dwellings.
These were 1, 2, 3 and 4 Millman Place, W.C.I, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 Dombey Street and
10 Harper Street, W.C.I, and 38, 40, 42 and 44 Flask Walk, N.W.3.
In addition 36 houses were demolished in the St. Silas Street Clearance Area, the Order
for which was made in 1965.
Apart from areas scheduled for slum clearance procedure there are a number of individual
houses which require to be dealt with by way of demolition or closing orders. During the year 175
inspections and reinspections were made in respect of unfit houses (Sections 16 and 17) and 1,231
inspections and reinspections in respect of part of a building including underground rooms (Section
18) of the Housing Act 1957. Details concerning demolition and closing orders for 1966 are given
in Table 11 of the Appendix.
LOANS FOR HOUSE PURCHASE
Section 43 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act 1958 empowers a local authority to
advance money to enable a person to buy, build, alter, enlarge, repair or improve the house. The
number of loans made by the Council for house purchase in 1966 was 223, amounting to £904,685.
IMPROVEMENT GRANTS
These consist of two kinds - standard grants and discretionary grants.
Standard grants introduced by the Housing Purchase and Housing Act 1959 as amended by
the Housing Acts 1961 and 1964, are intended for the improvement of dwellings built before 1945
which cannot be made self-contained. They are made to assist towards the provision of certain standard
amenities i.e. fixed bath or shower, a wash hand-basin, water closet and satisfactory facilities for
storing food. The Council pays up to one-half of the estimated cost of the work, the maximum for a
standard grant being £155. 90 standard grants were made by the Council in 1966.
Discretionary grants, introduced by the Housing Act 1949, are available for a wide range
of improvements and for providing new accommodation by converting houses or buildings erected
before 1948 into self-contained flats. Here also the Council has discretion to pay up to one-half of
the estimated cost of the work as approved by them up to a maximum of £400 per house improved or
flat produced by conversion. During the year the Council made 50 discretionary grants.
FOOD
The powers and duties of the Council in relation to food derive from the Food and Drugs
Act 1955 and the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1960.
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1955
The Council uses the services of two public analysts, Mr. J.H.E. Marshall who deals
with samples from the Southern part of the Borough and Mr. E. Voelcker with those from the Northern
part. During the year 873 samples were submitted for chemical analysis and of these 35 were
unsatisfactory. Details of these samples are given in Table 5 - in the Appendix.
In 1966 103 complaints were received concerning food purchased In the Borough. Legal
proceedings were authorised in 20 cases and fines totalling £404 were imposed with costs of £56.8s.
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