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53
and as it appeared that these localities were convenient ones for the
establishment of new Infant Welfare Centres, the Committee in April
resolved in favour of exploring the matter with a view to combining
First Aid Posts with Centres, and appointed a small Sub-Committee
to discuss preliminary matters with the Sub-Committee of the Air Raid
Precautions Committee. This matter was under discussion at the
close of the year. The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee
resolved to inspect all the Infant Welfare Centres in the Borough and
invited all the members of the Council to accompany them. Accordingly
on the 23rd February, 1938, members of the Council visited the
various premises in question and subsequently visits were paid to
Municipal Centres in other London Boroughs.
In June a communication was received from the Chairman of the
Infant Welfare Committee of the Hampstead Council of Social Service
stating that owing to the increase in the number of mothers attending
the Belsize Infant Welfare Centre (held in the Congregational Church
Hall, Avenue Road) it was considered necessary to hold an additional
weekly session, but that they could not undertake the additional
expense. It was stated that the Infant Welfare Committee would be
prepared to organise and staff another session if the Borough Council
would give an annual grant of £155 to cover the expense. The
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee reported to the Council that
they were of opinion that the whole position with regard to the Infant
Welfare Centres should be the subject of very careful consideration,
having regard, amongst other circumstances, to proposals which they
had under discussion concerning the erection of new Centres, but that
in view of the immediate need for additional facilities, arrangements
should be made for the suggested additional session to be held during
the period of three months commencing on the first Monday in July.
The Council resolved that a sum of £40 should be paid to the Hampstead
Council of Social Service to cover the expenses of an additional
session at the Belsize Infant Welfare Centre during the three months
commencing the first Monday in July. In view of the favourable
report on the working of the additional session, the Council on 27th
October granted a further sum of £80 to cover the expenses of the
additional session until the expiration of the financial year.