View report page

15
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR
for the year 1963
Town Hall,
Anerley Road, S.E.20.
12th August, 1964.
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban District Council of Penge.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I desire to present my Annual Report for the year ended 31st December,
1963, in which is set out the work of the Public Health Inspectors.
During the year further houses in the Groves Area were surveyed and as a
result were dealt with under the Clearance Procedure.
Objections were taken in respect of some of the properties and a public
inquiry was held. The Minister of Housing and Local Government, following
the report of his inspector, upheld the Medical Officer of Health's representations
made in respect of the properties in the various areas.
No further action under the Housing Act 1961 was taken in respect of
Houses in Multiple Occupation, action being suspended pending new legislation
which it is anticipated will give more effective powers to local authorities to deal
with this class of dwelling. Whilst marked progress has been made during the
past four years to deal with unfit properties by clearance procedure, it is evident
that the multiple occupancy of large Victorian type dwellings is increasing, the
new occupants being in the greater part immigrants.
The overcrowding situation both as regards to legal standards and amenity
standards, appears to have intensified, but the extent thereof cannot be assessed
without a complete survey of the district. Such a survey could only be carried
out provided there was increased staff.
No. 2 Smoke Control Order came into operation during the autumn. The
area comprises 736 dwellings. The creation of a smoke control area entails much
administrative work, and it will be noted that 1,293 visits were made during
the year, many after official hours.
It has been found that householders in general welcome smokeless zones and
are anxious to co-operate.
This will probably be the last report made by me, and will end the series of
Chief Public Health inspectors' reports which commenced with the year 1901.
Since that date the district has changed radically, as also has the work. In
1901 most of the work was concerned with infectious disease control; this year
"Slum Clearance" and "Clean Air" made the greatest demands on the
department.
Finally, I would like to place on record the unfailing support I have received
from the Members of the Council during my years of office, and my thanks to the
Staff who have met all demands made of them.