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56
Individual Unfit Premises
Eleven Closing Orders were made in respect of whole houses during the year.
One Demolition Order was also made.
Closing Orders were made in respect of 82 rooms including 56 underground
rooms. During the year 3 Orders were determined. One undertaking was cancelled
the premises having been made fit. Two further Closing Orders and an Undertaking
were cancelled during the year, the premises having been demolished.
HOUSING ACT, 1961
Management Orders
Management Orders were made in respect of 27 houses where proper standards
of management had not been maintained, bringing the total number of Management
Orders made by the Council to 137.
Directions
During the year a total of 193 Directions were given and there are now
2,020 houses which are subject to Directions. Legal proceedings in respect of
contraventions of Directions were instituted in 19 instances. Directions in
respect of 4 houses were varied so as to increase the numbers of individuals
who should occupy the houses concerned, the owners having provided additional
water-closets and/or bathing facilities.
HOUSING ACT, 1969
This Act came into force on 25th August, 1969, and is in six parts, covering
improvement grants, general improvement areas, rent of dwellings with
standard amenities, houses in multiple occupation, compensation for unfit
houses, etc. The following are of immediate concern to the Health Department:-
(1) The standard of fitness for human habitation set out in the 1957 Act is
amended by the addition of "internal arrangement' and the deletion of 'facilities
for storage of food' . The fact that internal arrangement has been added to the
standard of fitness somewhat strengthens the powers of the local authority in
dealing with tenement blocks.
There is also a widening of the powers of local authorities in regard to
houses in multiple occupation:- (a) directions to reduce or prevent overcrowding
can limit the number of individuals or households, or both, who may occupy
the house. In this connection the Council resolved that future directions
should be given in respect of both the number of individuals and the number of
households, (b) the local authority are no longer required to serve notice of
intention to make a Management Order.
(2) New provisions are included whereby if a house is not provided with satisfactory
means of escape in case of fire and it is not practicable to provide
such means at reasonable expense the Council may accept an undertaking that
such part of the house will not be so used. This legislation bears resemblance
to a closing order made under Sections 16 and 18 of the Housing Act, 1957.
(3) Local authorities are given further powers to control multiple occupation
by an extension of the powers in the 1961 Act respecting registration of houses
in multiple occupation.
FOOD AND DRUGS
Included in the enactments which reached the statute book during the year
were the following which affect the food trade:-