§ 31. Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what were the reasons for dismissing the application of the Willesden Borough Council to build dwellings in Oman Avenue.
§ Mr. H. BrookeThe land in question is a small part of a large freehold estate; and as the owners are able and willing to build flats on it themselves I did not consider that the use of compulsory powers was justified to enable the Willesden Borough Council to build in their stead.
§ Mr. PavittIn view of the fact that the local borough council is responsible for building 750 dwellings for slum clearance, 402 for the clearance of prefabricated dwellings and 47 for rent evictions, is it possible for the Minister to reconsider his decision?
§ Mr. BrookeNo, Sir. I have given my decision on this matter. It emerged at the inquiry that the council had enough land for its own building for five years 206 ahead, and in the circumstances it seemed to me that the owners of this site, who wished to redevelop it themselves for flats, should be allowed to do so, rather than that it should be compulsorily taken from them.
§ 34. Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will consider the housing programme of the Willesden Borough Council up to and including the end of March, 1961, in order that delay in loan sanction shall not prevent the building programme which has been already agreed upon by that council.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI know of no reason for departing from the present practice of basing housing programmes on the calendar year; it is well understood by local authorities, and certainly need not lead to delay in the granting of loan sanction. I have already approved the Willesden Borough Council's housing programme for 1960 and shall be ready to consider any proposals for 1961 which it may put forward later this year.
§ Mr. PavittI thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Is he aware of this gap between the fiscal year of the Borough Council and the calendar year to which the right hon. Gentleman works? The Willesden Borough Council hopes to start on 180 dwellings in the interim period, from January to March. Will he be prepared to give the borough council further sanction for these dwellings before the end of this year?
§ Mr. BrookeYes. The council submitted its programme for 1960 to me on 28th April, and I approved it in full six days later. I would have been prepared to take it into consideration if it had been sent in six months earlier than that.