View report page

75
So soon as may be after a local authority have declared any area to be a
clearance area, they shall proceed to secure the clearance thereof in one or other
of the following ways, or partly in one way and partly in the other :
(a) By ordering the demolition of the buildings in the area ; or
(b) By purchasing the land comprised in the area and themselves
taking, or otherwise securing the demolition of the buildings
thereon.
Clause 2.— This clause provides that where a local authority determine to
order any buildings in a clearance area to be demolished, they shall make and submit
to the Minister, for confirmation by him, an order (to be known as a " Clearance
Order ") ordering the demolition of each of those buildings.
The First Schedule contains particulars as to the procedure to be adopted in
regard to the making and confirmation of clearance orders, including press notices,
notices to be served on owners and lessees, the consideration of objections by the
Minister, and the holding of a local inquiry.
When a clearance order has become operative, the owner or owners of any
building within the area shall demolish the same before the expiration of six weeks
from the date on which the building is required by the order to be vacated, failing
which the local authority shall enter and demolish the building, and sell the
materials thereof, and any expenses incurred by the authority, after giving credit
for sale of materials, may be recovered by them from the owner or owners
summarily as a civil debt, and any surplus shall be paid to the owner or owners.
Clause 3.— This clause provides that the local authority may purchase any
land surrounded by or adjoining a clearance area, the acquisition of which is
reasonably necessary for securing a cleared area of convenient shape and dimensions
for the satisfactory development or user of the cleared area.
Clause 4.— This clause contains provisions for the disposal or treatment of
and purchased for a clearance order. The local authority shall demolish the
buildings on the land and sell the same or may, subject to the approval of the
Minister and to certain restrictions, appropriate the same for any purpose for which
they are authorised to acquire land; or may sell the land, subject to a condition
that the buildings shall be demolished.
Clause 5.— This clause provides for dealing with areas which can be remedied
without the demolition of all the buildings in the area, by
(i) The demolition or repair of those dwelling houses which are unfit
for human habitation ;
(ii) The purchase by the authority of any land in the area which it is
expedient for them to acquire for opening out the area and the
demolition of such buildings as may be necessary for the purpose ;
and
(iii) The abatement of overcrowding in the area.
These areas are to be known as improvement areas and the procedure to be
adopted is similar to that in regard to clearance areas.
Clause 6.— Under this clause a local authority who have passed a resolution
declaring an area to be an improvement area shall as soon as may be :
(а) In the case of dwelling houses which are unfit for human habitation,
serve notices under Part II (of the Bill) requiring the execution of
all necessary repairs thereto or the demolition thereof, and enforce
compliance with the notices.
(b) In so far as the improvement of the area involves the purchase of land
for opening out the area, proceed to purchase the land ; and
(c) Make and enforce under Sections 6 and 7 of the Housing Act, 1925,
by-laws satisfactory to the Minister for preventing, and abating
overcrowding in the area and generally for securing the improvement
of housing conditions, and the subsequent maintenance of a
proper standard of housing conditions.