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jurisdiction to secure fitness for occupation of houses let in
lodgings or occupied by more than one family. This meant
that the standard for the provision of water closets laid down
in the byelaw was no longer applicable, and in order to secure
uniformity in the administration of Section 11 the Advisory
Body of Medical Officers of Health recommended to the Metropolitan
Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee that the following
standard should be applied by the constituent councils, viz., one
water closet for each household where practicable; and where
premises are let in lodgings at least one water closet for every
8 persons or one water closet for every four rooms whichever
is the higher standard. This Council accordingly adopted this
recommended standard.
Slaughterhouses
The Proprietors of the two licensed slaughterhouses in the
Borough applied to the Council for the renewal of their annual
licences, although the slaughterhouses had not been used for
some years. It was pointed out to the applicants that fresh
legislation concerning slaughterhouses was anticipated in the
near future which might involve considerable expenditure in
bringing their premises up to the required standard, and they
may desire to consider whether they wished to proceed with
their application, particularly as their slaughterhouses had been
disused for some considerable time. In both instances, the
proprietors withdrew their applications and there are no longer
any licensed slaughterhouses in Camberwell.
Bombed Sites and Static Water Tanks.
The problem arising from the deposit of rubbish on bombed
sites has steadily diminished as more and more of these sites
have been utilised for the purpose of providing new housing.
Nevertheless, there are a number of smaller sites still
remaining which from time to time are the subject of complaints
of nuisances caused by accumulations of refuse which give rise
to offensive smells and the harbourage of rats. Where such
nuisances have occurred the Borough Engineer and Surveyor
has been requested to arrange for the removal of the offensive
matter and where necessary rodent control treatment has been
carried out.
A rather more important problem, and indeed a more
irritating one, is presented by the static water tanks in the
Borough. These tanks collect rain water which in time becomes
infested with mosquito larvae. During the warmer weather,
these tanks were regularly inspected and sprayed to prevent the
breeding of mosquitoes, and when necessary the London Fire
Brigade were requested to arrange for the stagnant water to be