Mr Fletcher, the Secretary of the Protest Committee, stated that it was the wish of the owner-occupiers to get rid of their houses and that without delay, and also that owner-occupiers who were originally on the register of the Estates Department for tenancy of houses should be reinstated on the list in the order that they were in before they purchased the houses in question with a view to being granted tenancies in their proper turn and their present houses taken over by the Corporation as he did not think the owner-occupiers should suffer in consequence of their bad bargains, and because they had no further confidence in municipal houses.

Then with regard to people not on the waiting list who had spent all their money on furniture for the houses and could not go into rooms, he thought the circumstances were exceptional and that exceptional treatment should be given.

Mr Fletcher also stated that the Bank Committee would be paid the money due to them which, in the majority of cases, were merely being held up by the owner-occupiers until satisfactory arrangements were made.

The offers made by the Conference were explained fully to the Deputation, who submitted their observations upon and objections to the proposals, which objections were mainly to the effect that the transfer of an owner-occupier to another part of the City would be a source of trouble and inconvenience, as a good many had work in the vicinity; also that complaints had been made regarding Corporation houses on other Estates and that therefore they could not contemplate the proposal to enter into another purchase.

A suggestion was made to the Deputation that the Corporation might be able to supply brick built houses in the locality, but the members of the Deputation were emphatic in stating that they were not prepared to enter a further purchase and would only be content with the tenancy of a house.

It was pointed out to the Deputation that the subsequent letting of a sold house would result in a capital loss to the Corporation of £156 per house, and they were also informed of the effect likely to be created on owner-occupiers of other Corporation houses numbering about 3,000 if a precedent were created by allowing certain owner-occupiers to sell back their houses and be taken on as tenants.

Sir Percival Bower, however, stated that although the proposal made by the Deputation that an owner-occupier should be re-instated on the register of the Estates Department had not previously received consideration, he personally was of opinion that the suggestion should be examined and he was prepared to support it. It was pointed out, however, that no undertaking could be given by the Conference, who had already definitely decided that the question of tenancy could not be entertained under any circumstances.

Sir Percival Bower emphasised the serious position with regard to arrears on the Pype Hayes Estate and stated that unless such arrears were paid up without delay, drastic action would inevitably have to be taken. He also took the opportunity of refuting the suggestion made that the Bank had not had a proper valuation made of Corporation houses before making an advance.

The members of the Deputation repeated the statement made by Mr Fletcher that the money owing to the Bank was available and would be paid, and after further discussion the Lord Mayor intimated that the Town Clerk would notify the owner-occupiers concerned of the proposals laid before the Deputation to give them an opportunity of considering the alternatives individually; also that he proposed to ask the Estates Committee to consider the question of an owner-occupier reverting to his place on the waiting list for the tenancy of a house, and their decision would be communicated to the owner-occupiers within the period allowed for the acceptance of the offers made by the Corporation, which, to allow full time for consideration on the part of the owner-occupiers, would be increased to fourteen days from the date of the Town Clerk's letter conveying such offers.

The Deputation were informed that any genuine cases of hardship by owner-occupiers would receive sympathetic consideration by the Bank Committee.

The Deputation, having thanked the Lord Mayor for the opportunity of laying their grievance before the Conference, thereupon withdrew.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            15th February 1928

                                                                                                                             L/D

Dear Sir,

                                                                                                             Pype Hayes Estate.

                                                                                                            re No.__________________________

Adverting to my previous correspondence with you on this subject, I beg to inform you that a conference took place at the Council House yesterday between representatives of the Corporation and members of the Pype Hayes Protest Committee, as a result of which I am directed to enquire whether you are prepared to agree to any one of the following proposals (and if so, which) viz:-

1. To remain in occupation of your house as owner- occupier, subject to the payment by you of all instalment arrears of principal and interest under your Mortgage Deed, and ground rent and insurance due to the Bank, but conditional upon the house being put into good condition, as certified by the City Surveyor, and with the benefit of the 10 years guarantee against structural defects given by the Corporation.

2. Subject to the payment by you of all instalment arrears of principal and interest under your Mortgage Deed, and ground rent and insurance due to the Bank, to sell your house to Mr Boswell at the same price which you originally paid for the same, as stated in your Lease. Any balance remaining after the discharge of your total liabilities to the Bank will be returned to you.

3. This proposal is also subject to your giving vacant possession on completion of the sale to Mr Boswell, but is to be conditional upon your being offered, as purchaser, a new house (brick built) by the Corporation and on the understanding that, if you desire it, the Bank Committee will grant you a mortgage for an amount equal to the amount outstanding on your present mortgage after payment of the instalment arrears of principal and interest to date.

Subject to the payment by you of all instalment arrears of principal and interest under your Mortgage Deed, and ground rent and insurance due to the Bank, to sell your house to Mr Boswell at the same price which you originally paid for the same, as stated in your Lease.

Any balance remaining after the discharge of your total liabilities to the Bank will be returned to you.

This proposal is also subject to your giving vacant possession on completion of the sale to Mr Boswell and on the understanding that new accommodation is to be found by yourself.

I am to add that if you agree to either the second or third proposals the Corporation will be prepared, in addition, to remove your furniture without cost to yourself to any place within the City, and also to execute as near as may be similar works of decoration and garden improvements at the new house, if within the City, as may have been carried out at your own expense at your present house on the Estate.

Finally, in order that the Corporation may know the number and situation of the houses which can be sold to Mr Boswell, I am to request that you will let me have a definite reply from you within fourteen days from the date of this letter.

To assist you in the matter I enclose forms setting out the three proposals referred to, and I shall be glad if you will sign and return to me in the enclosed stamped addressed envelope, the undertaking which you may think fit to agree to, it being clearly understood, however, that in the event of none of the alternatives being accepted within the time stipulated, namely, on or before Wednesday, the 29th instant, the proceedings for the recovery of arrears under the Mortgage and obtaining possession of the property will no longer be delayed.

                    Yours faithfully,

                                       Town Clerk.

Following the issue of the Town Clerk's letter, replies were received including one from an owner-occupier not on the arrears list, but included in the 83 signatures to the Memorial submitted to the City Council. Another letter was from a Mortgagor who had now paid up his arrears, and to whom all the terms of the letter consequently did not apply.

The Bank Committee, at a meeting on February 20th 1928, after considering the position so far as the owner-occupiers who had signed the Memorial presented to the Council were concerned, but who were not in arrear, resolved that the Town Clerk be instructed to make similar offers to those contained in his letter of the 15th instant as far as may be applicable to the remaining owner-occupiers who had signed the Pype Hayes Memorial. However, with the 14-day deadline specified in the Town Clerk's letter expiring on February 29th, a Conference of the interested Committees was held on the prior day:

REPORT OF CONFERENCE OF REPRESENTATIVES  OF BANK, ESTATES AND FINANCE COMMITTEES HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, 1928, AT THE COUNCIL HOUSE TO CONSIDER VARIOUS QUESTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH The SALE AND REPURCHASE OF MUNICIPAL HOUSES.

PRESENT:

Alderman Sir Percival Bower, MBE, JP, In the Chair

Councillor Cooper & Mr J P Hilton (General Manager) Representing the Bank Committee

Councillors Kenning & Godrich and Mr Wallace Smith (General Manager) Representing the Estates Committee

Councillors Grey and Bradbeer & Mr J R Johnson (City Treasurer) Representing the Finance Committee

The Conference were informed that the Meeting had been called to consider the following matters, which they proceeded to deal with seriatim:

1. Period during which re-sale or letting should be restricted.

2. Procedure to be followed in carrying out recommendations of the Joint Conference.

3. Deposit required for second purchasers.

4. Policy in respect of houses being used for business purposes.

5. Policy in respect of sub-letting.

6. Houses now vacant where keys have been handed in or can be obtained, but where mortgage has not yet been discharged,

7. Policy regarding re-sales effected privately at an enhanced price.

(1) Period during which Resale or letting should be restricted.

After a short discussion during which it was suggested that the period in question should be extended to two years, it was decided to defer dealing with this matter until the Estates Committee had considered the subject.

(2) Procedure to be followed in carrying out recommendations of the Joint Conference on Housing.

The question was discussed as to the manner in which the policy laid down by the Joint Conference on Housing should be carried out in regard to Houses where possession has been obtained by the Bank. It was pointed out that if such houses were repurchased by the Estates Committee and put back into the letting poll, the financial loss to the City would represent £156 on each house so dealt with, whereas if the property was offered for sale and had to be disposed of on the best terms obtainable the loss incurred might be substantially less than the loss resulting from putting the house back into the letting pool.

The Conference were, therefore, of opinion that in cases where the Bank have recovered possession of any house, they should consult with the Finance Committee with a view to determining (a) whether the Finance Committee should instruct the Estates Committee to repurchase or (b) whether the house should be put up for sale on the best terms obtainable.

(3) Second Purchasers of Municipal Houses - Deposit required.

The Conference considered the question of whether a second purchaser of a Corporation House should be allowed low deposit facilities.

It was pointed out that the Bank and Finance Committees had already agreed on the principle of granting equal deposit facilities to approved second purchasers.

The view was expressed by the General Manager of the Estates Department that if the low deposit facilities were withdrawn it would be practically impossible to re-sell any Corporation Houses. The Conference were, therefore, of opinion that each case should be considered by the Bank and Finance Committees on its merits, and the decision left to these Committees.

(4)Houses proposed to be used for business purposes.

The Conference were informed that cases had arisen where applications had been made by mortgagors of Corporation Houses for permission to erect business signs at their premises and conduct business thereon. The General Manager of the Estates Department stated that he had permitted the exhibition of signs in certain cases on the understanding that in accordance with the provision of the lease no business shall be carried on in the premises.

After discussion the Conference arrived at the conclusion that so far as Municipal Houses under mortgage to the Bank are concerned application for permission to exhibit business signs on the houses shall be in each case be considered and decided jointly by the General Managers of the Bank and Estates Departments.