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To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on the
health and sanitary state of the Borough of Battersea for
the year 1920.
The year has been characterised by the increasing
activities of the Health Department and the large volume of
work dealt with, especially in regard to Maternity and Child
Welfare work and to Housing matters.
The outstanding feature of the year's work has been,
undoubtedly, the development of the Council's Maternity and
Child Welfare Scheme. The municipal part of the scheme
has been rapidly improved and extended by the provision
of such necessary measures as adequate midwifery and
nursing services, dental and ante-natal clinics, etc. These
additional services are now nearly completed, and were for
the most part functioning early this year. The work of the
voluntary associations comprised in the Council's comprehensive
scheme has also been more closely and effectively linked
up with the work of the Health Department, and material
assistance—financial and otherwise—to enable these bodies to
carry out their useful functions with greater efficiency, has
been given them by the Council.
In regard to Housing matters, strenuous efforts were made
during the year to carry out the provisions of the Housing
Acts. So far as the provision of new working-class dwellings
is concerned, only two small schemes (viz., Heathwall Street
and Swaffield House) were being actively proceeded with, and
it is anticipated that these tenements will be ready for occupation
early in 1921. It is confidently expected that the larger
scheme for the erection of 52 tenements on the vacant site of
the Council's Latchmere Estate will also be proceeded with
in the coming year. Notwithstanding the administrative
difficulties met with in carrying out the provisions of the
Housing Act, it is gratifying to note, in the section of
the Report dealing with Housing, that at least in regard
to the important question of the repair of insanitary property
very successful progress was made.
The vital and morbid satistics for this year are on the
whole satisfactory, and compare favourably with those for
past years.
I desire to express my thanks to the Chairmen of the
Health, Maternity, and Housing Committees, and to the
Members of the Council, for their support and sympathetic
consideration. To my colleagues, the Chief Officers of the
Council, and to the staff of the Public Health Department,
my thanks are also due for assistance always willingly
rendered.
G. QUIN LENNANE.
July, 1921.