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(1) persons to be dehoused by any clearance schemes to be
undertaken by them, and
(2) persons residing in overcrowded conditions in the
Borough."
Taking the problems under headings (a) and (b) of this report,
it is obvious that the accommodation at Doddington Grove is quite
insufficient to deal with either completely. Moreover, if such a policy
were decided upon, the only outlet which has presented itself for many
years would be "choked," and any action which may be desired to
be taken under heading (c), either now or in the future, with regard
to a Clearance Scheme, would be rendered impossible owing to the
fact that under the Housing Act, 1930, before dealing with any
Clearance Scheme, alternative accommodation must be available for
displaced persons.
I have discussed the present situation with the Town Clerk, and
we are both agreed that in order to deal collectively with all the
problems outlined in this report and to alleviate by a gradual process
the serious overcrowding and extinction of unfit dwellings, the long
viewed policy is the best—namely, Clearance and Re-housing Schemes,
by which a surplus of flats can be gradually accumulated. This policy
we recommend to the Council, and accordingly it is desirable that the
flats now in course of erection at Doddington Grove should be earmarked
for this purpose.
(2) HOUSING—Various Points Stressed in the Latest Annual Report of
the Ministry of Health, 1931-1932.
HOUSING POLICY.
It is essential in existing financial circumstances to ensure that
all new expenditure on housing should be used to the best advantage,
and it is agreed that the outstanding need at the present time is for
the building of houses which can be let at rents within the means of
the poorer paid workers.
The report of the Departmental Committee on the Rent Restriction
Act bears out the above statements; moreover, the Committee reported
that " Some Local Authorities are now building, under the Housing
Act, 1924, a three bedroomed house to let at a rent of 10/- inclusive,
and there is no doubt that a large supply of houses at this rent would
go a long way towards solving the problem."
The view taken by the Ministry of Health since 1919 is that
adequate accommodation for the ordinary family with children can
be provided in a house of the three bedroomed non-parlour type within
a superficial area of 760 square feet.