View report page

19
Difficulties and delays still, unfortunately, persist. It is necessary, where
sanitary defects are the result of war damage for the owner to obtain
agreement with the War Damage Commission before the work is commenced
and although the Commission has been extremely co-operative in
giving urgent attention to those cases where a sanitary notice has been
served, a certain amount of delay is unavoidable. The amount to which
building licences can be issued is limited and in some cases the delay in the
issue of a licence has been considerable. Prices have continued to rise
and the cost of repairs has increased disproportionately to the increase
in rent on the basis of the pre-war figures. In some instances the owners
have been unable to order the repairs because they have had insufficient
resources to meet the cost.
In general defects were dealt with under the provisions of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1936 and the Housing Act, 1936, Section 9 was
only used in one instance.
Smoke Abatement
The problem of nuisance from the emission of smoke, grit, etc., is one
requiring constant attention.
In some instances the industrial process is one where the emission of
smoke cannot be avoided, in some difficulty arises from the poor quality
of the fuel used and in others from the inability through shortages of
material, or labour, or in obtaining the necessary licences, to carry out the
modifications to the plant which would prevent the emission of undue
quantities of smoke.
The regular visits for inspection and observation and the advice given
have produced some improvement but some nuisance does exist from time
to time particularly where high blocks of flats have been built in proximity
to the industrial installations.
Offensive Trades
In two premises in the Borough occupations are carried on which come
within the definition of offensive trades. These have been regularly
inspected and the work in general is well conducted. No notices were
necessary in this connection.
Rodent Control
One Rodent Supervisor and one Operator were employed throughout
the year and the following tables summarised the work carried out: —