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Powers and duties of the Council under this new Act have been
delegated to the Public Health Committee and inspections are
carried out by the Public Health Inspectors.
Home Safety Act, 1961.—Operative from 18th May, 1961, this
Act, in repealing Section 82 of the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1957, enables the Council to promote safety in the
home and to make contributions to voluntary organisations whose
activities consist of or include the promotion of safety in the home.
Responsibilities of the Council under the Act have been referred
to the Public Health Committee.
Lack of forethought, carelessness, and, on many occasions,
sheer ignorance are the main causes of "home" accidents and the
basic need would appear to be appropriate education.
As effective propaganda relies on the impact of direct appeal
and contact with the public, the Public Health Commitee has asked
the Local Safety Advisory Council as being a more suitable organisation, to undertake this aspect of "Home Safety".
Shops Act, 1950.—Under this Act, which became effective
from 1st October, 1950, the Council is responsible for ensuring
that, in every part of a shop in which persons are employed about
the business of that shop:
(a) suitable and sufficient ventilation is provided and maintained,
(b) suitable and sufficient temperature is provided and maintained, and
(c) suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences are provided
and maintained.
In the event of satisfactory sanitary arrangements not being
available at the premises the Council is empowered under Section 38
of the Act to grant exemption from this provision if it is satisfied
that suitable facilities are readily accessible elsewhere.
At the end of the year 14 exemption certificates were in
operation.
From 1st January, 1959, in accordance with the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1958, the County Council's powers
and duties under Section 38 of the Shops Act, 1950, relating to
lighting, washing facilities and arrangements for taking meals at
shops were, with the excepted premises itemised under Section 18(2),
transferred to the Metropolitan Borough Councils.
Routine inspections were carried out under the abovementioned
Act on 432 occasions.