View report page

59
SANITARY ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOROUGH
Mr. H, Hoyland,
Chief Public Health Inspector
For the purpose of routine inspection of premises and the investigation
of complaints, the borough is divided into three areas. The overall
supervision of each area is the responsibility of a senior district
inspector. The three areas are sub-divided to form twelve districts,
each being the responsibility of one district inspector or one senior
district inspector. Owing to staff shortages, this has not been
possible, and it has been necessary for some inspectors to control two
or more districts resulting in unavoidable curtailment of routine
inspections. Six advertisements for public health inspectors were
issued during the year but the response was disappointing, so that
throughout the year, with an establishment of 29 inspectors, there
continued to be eight vacancies.
The establishment of assistants to the public health inspectors
has been increased from two to six and student public health inspectors
from eight to nine.
In addition to district duties, there are inspectors and
assistants engaged on the following specialised work:-
(1) One senior housing inspector with a team of five inspectors
engaged exclusively on duties in connection with houses
in multiple occupation in specified areas which are being
dealt with street by street.
(2) One senior housing inspector dealing with slum clearance
and underground rooms.
(3) One senior inspector dealing with improvement grants,
mortgage applications and overcrowding.
(4) One senior inspector with one unqualified assistant
engaged on duties under the Clean Air Act, 1956, in
connection with Smoke Control Orders and atmospheric
pollution recordings.
(5) One senior inspector engaged on duties in connection with
the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963.
together with special duties for pilot schemes, research
projects and exhibitions. This officer is supported in
his work by two unqualified assistants,
(6) One senior inspector dealing exclusively with the sampling
of food and drugs, fertilisers, feeding stuffs and rag
flock and other filling materials used in the upholstery
trade, together with the investigation of all complaints
in connection with these products.
The inspectors are supported in their work by six unqualified
assistants, including the three referred to above, two drainage
assistants, together with a rodent officer with six assistant rodent
officers, and the chief disinfector with six assistants.
During the year, 2,361 complaints were received and 37,76l
inspections and re-inspections were carried out.
In only 141 cases was it necessary to resort to legal proceedings,
nineteen of these proceedings being concerned with offences under the
Food and Drugs Act, 1955.