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42
7
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Mr. D.C. Draper
Chief Public Health Inspector
At the end of 1971 the Public Health Inspectorate consisted of twenty-eight public
health inspectors and fifteen assistants. In addition, a senior officer and two assistants were
engaged in public control functions, a rodent officer with a deputy and six assistants on
rodent control duties and a chief disinfector with a deputy and four assistants on
disinfection and disinfestation work.
During the course of the year, the number of applications for improvement grants
increased and for the first time grants approved exceeded one million pounds. With the
support of the Management Services Officer, the staff of this section was increased by three
assistants to the public health inspectors and there is every indication of further expansion
during the forthcoming year.
A milestone was reached in connection with the Council's Smoke Control duties
when in June, 1971, the Secretary of State of the Department of the Environment
confirmed the Order for the last smoke control area in the borough. This Order will not
become operative until July 1972. The work of the section dealing with atmospheric
pollution will, of course, lessen but some duties will be retained such as routine
measurement of atmospheric pollution, installation of new furnaces, determination of
chimney heights, etc.
In common with the majority of other boroughs there has been a considerable
increase in mouse infestation. A report was submitted to the Council and authority was
obtained for the employment of an additional assistant rodent officer and the purchase of a
specially adapted vehicle. It is hoped that when this vehicle is in service, in addition to
dealing with the large number of complaints, the section will also be able to undertake some
routine block treatment in the worst affected areas.
There is a continued shortage of qualified public health inspectors and great reliance
is therefore placed upon the students who are trained in the Department and when qualified
are taken on to the staff, thus filling vacancies created by retirement and officers taking up
positions with other authorities. Nine students are employed and are required to undertake
a sandwich course over three years in conjunction with one of the two Technical Colleges
providing training in London. At the end of the course the students sit a comprehensive
examination extending over several days in order to obtain the Diploma of the Public Health
Inspectors' Education Board.