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At the close of the year information was received that Lord and Lady
Melchett had purchased a large site adjoining the Society's present
premises and intended to erect thereon appropriate buildings with the
object of co-ordinating Maternity and Child Welfare activities in the
Borough. Such co-ordination will undoubtedly lead to still greater
efficiency and the munificent gift of the donors is greatly appreciated.
Section III. of the report deals with Sanitary Administration. The
statistics indicate that constant attention is devoted to the improvement
of housing accommodation in the Borough. Although to less extent
than in other Metropolitan Borough, this side of the work of the department
is frequently hampered by the inadequate number of houses available.
Since the War your Housing Committee has been engaged in
examining possible sites which might be utilised for Housing Schemes —
a task rendered difficult by the fact that Chelsea is already largely built
up. It is gratifying to record that during the year the efforts of the
Committee have led to the acquisition by the Borough Council of two
very suitable sites. The combined area of these is over three acres and
each site is admirably adapted for the erection of additional buildings to
house the working classes. In addition, early in the year sanction of
the Ministry of Health was obtained for the Borough Council's Improvement
Scheme in connection with the World's End-passage area. The
task of clearing this site and the construction of new buildings thereon
is being actively proceeded with by the Chelsea Housing Improvement
Society, Limited, in conjunction with the Borough Council.
As in former years, much attention has been given to the supervision
of food supplies.
I have again to express my appreciation of the work of the staff of
the Public Health Department, and to thank the members of the Public
Health, Maternity, Child Welfare, and other Committees for the support
and sympathetic consideration which they have extended to me, and
for their keen attention to the problems which it has been my duty to
lay before them.
Copies of this report have been transmitted to the Ministry of Health,
the Home Office and the London County Council, in accordance with
statutory requirements.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
w. H. L. McCarthy.