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In all cases where an adaptation approved by the Council is carried out a
grant of 70% of the total approved cost is payable by the Council who recover
40% from the Exchequer; the section does, however, provide for payment by the
Council the sums in excess of the statutory 70% Of the thirteen applications
for payment by the Council of sums in excess of the statutory grant, four were
refused and nine relating to 22 adaptations, were granted 100% of the approved
cost being paid in respect of each adaptation,
SECTION 16 (Abatement of smoke nuisances). Nine of the ten instances of
smoke being emitted in such quantity as to constitute a nuisance were dealt
with without recourse to legal proceedings, but in the tenth case a summons was
issued and the magistrates made a Prohibition Order and awarded costs against
the defendant.
SECTION 25 (Powers of local authorities as to research and publicity)
(a) Clean Air Centre During the year some 4,000 residents, builders,
trades representatives, etc. visited the Centre in Florfield Road to obtain
advice on various aspects of the Clean Air Act, and in particular for detailed
information regarding the adaptation of their fireplaces, method of obtaining
grant aid, use of smokeless fuels, etc. The Centre continues to accommodate
some of the staff engaged on work connected with the implementation of the
Clean Air Act.
(b) The National Society for Clean Air, The Council renewed its annual
subscription to this Society and was represented on the Council of the Society
by the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Public Health Committee and the
Medical Officer of Health. The Chief Public Health Inspector representing
the Medical Officer of Health, attended the Annual General Meeting on the
17th July. The Society's annual conference was held at Brighton from the
9th to the 12th October, and was attended by the Vice Chairman and the
Senior Housing Inspector.
(c) The London and Home Counties Clean Air Advisory Council. The Council
renewed its annual subscription to this body on which the Council is represented
by the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Public Health Committee together with
the Medical Officer of Health.
(d) Joint Conference of Local Authorities. This Joint Conference, formed
in 1957, comprises representatives from the following authorities
County Borough of East Ham and West Ham.
Boroughs of Barking, Chingford, Dagenham, Ilford, Leyton, Walthamstow,
Wanstead and Woodford.
Metropolitan Borough of Hackney, and the Urban District of Chigwell.
Two meetings were held, one on the 4th April at Chingford and the other on
the 12th September at Ilford, Among the subjects discussed were:-
(i) Representation to Home Office re fuel from Diesel vehicles.
(ii) Representation to Ministry of Housing and Local Government re reduction
in Local Authority contributions to cost of adaptations in Smoke
Control Areas.
(iii) Representation to prevent sale of bituminous coal in Smoke
Control Areas.
(iv) Cost of smokeless fuel supplied in small quantities.
(v) Wider use of trolley deliveries in respect of small quantities of
fuel for householders without adequate storage facilities or who
prefer to buy fuel in small quantities.
(vi) Payment of 70% 4 grants to applicants in need.
(vii) Exemption of certain industrial undertakings from the provisions of
Smoke Control Orders
(viii) The extent of prosecutions undertaken by constituent authorities for
contraventions of smoke control orders.