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Staff-Inspectorate
The establishment of inspectors consists of a chief public health
inspector, principal public health inspector; nine senior inspectors,
16 district inspectors, 8 student inspectors and 4 technical assistants.
For the greater part of the year the establishment was up to the required
strength.
Housing
Preferential rehousing on medical grounds
During the year 1213 applications for rehousing on medical grounds were
referred to the Housing Manager for assessment, but 13 persons only were
actually rehoused. This means that not even all the Special Category cases
are being dealt with as speedily as one would hope.

House to House Survey
House to house surveys were continued throughout the year to deal with
general housing defects, puisances, the encouragement of Improvement Grant
Applications and the enforcement of adequate facilities and means of
escape in case of fire in houses in multiple occupation. These visits can
be divided for convenience of presentation between Houses in Multiple
Occupation and initial visits in Study Areas. A further 401 houses in
multiple occupation were surveyed during the year, of which 304 called for
action under the Housing Acts, 202 initial visits were made in Study Areas
(i.e. Areas which were subsequently declared to be General Improvement Areas)
and 86 Improvement Grants were recommended by the Housing Section for these
areas.
It will be seen from these figures that the Housing Act, 1969, has had
a considerable impact in this year. Special Grants, however,have not been
specifically encouraged in Improvement Areas because it was felt that such
Areas should demonstrate improvements to a higher standard, i.e. each letting
should possess the full range of standard amenities and, if possible, should
be self-contained.
During the coming year, it is anticipated that the Housing Section will
be involved to an increasing extent in surveys associated with possible
General Improvement Areas. The introduction of amenities-can, in most cases,
only be enforced by a belated use of compulsory acquisition powers when
persuasion has failed. However, repairs can be required and some repair may
be eligible for a Grant. It is hoped, therefore, that owners will take
advantage of this benefit and carry out both aspects of the work at the
same time.
B.l