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Housing and Redevelopment Programme
Action was taken in 1965 to ensure continuity of the clearance and redevelopment
programme of the two former County Boroughs. A cycle of work was arranged so that inspections
of properties were carried out, the clearance areas delineated, official representations and
maps prepared and presented to the Council's Committees at appropriate time intervals, so that
Compulsory Purchase Orders and the consequent administrative work including holding of Public
Inquiries, carried out as quickly as possible. In this way the re-housing of occupants and the
demolition of properties could all be accomplished in about three years. A Working Committee
met monthly to plan phasing of work and also ensured that any problems arising were fully
resolved. Nearly 20,000 visits have been made in the past six years in 191 Clearance Areas.
Improvement Grants and Improvements Areas
Although Improvement Grants were originally dealt with by the Public Health Inspectors
Section, they are now dealt with by the Valuation Section of the Borough Engineer's Department
and the Public Health Inspectors Section only advises on the probable life of the properties
concerned and whether or not they are included, or likely to be included in future redevelopment
schemes. General Improvements Areas under the 1969 Housing Act will become an increasingly
important means of preserving and improving older properties, and in these cases the Public
Health Inspector carries out the original inspection of the areas and the Working Party formed
by members of all Departments then co-operate in assessing the possibilities and the costs.
As an indication of the amount of work involved some 4 Areas have been examined totalling
approximately 3,000 properties and before the first of the Areas is finally completed, many
more visits and consultations will have to be made.
Statistics relating to environmental health are given in Table R on page 58.
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