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The results of this work are set out in detail in the Report, but it will be noted
that owing to anticipated difficulties in recovering the cost of works which might
have to be carried out in default within the terms of the Act, only 7 formal notices
were served. This weakness on the part of the 1961 Act was generally recognised, and
it is anticipated that strengthened powers under the Housing Act 1964, dealing with
multiple occupation houses, will have a more beneficial effect.
Work continued, of course, in connection with unfit houses. A total of 58 houses
in Clearance Areas were represented as being unfit and Closing or Demolition Orders
were made for a further eight individual houses. In addition, 26 Closing Orders were
approved for parts of buildings, the majority of which were basements.
The maintenance of elderly houses also comprises a major part of the work of the
District Public Health Inspectors. This is done under the provisions of the Public
Health (London) Act, and in the details set out in the Report, it will be found that
the Department received over 5,000 sanitary complaints during the year, everyone of
which of course, necessitated an Inspector's visit. Dampness is a very common cause
of complaint, but blocked w. c. s and drains, defective woodwork including floors,
defective walls and many other matters had to receive attention. The Inspectors
served over 2,000 sanitary notices, but much of the repair work is done voluntarily
and without difficulty or undue delay by the owners. The Report, however, also
contains a list of 44 cases where the Council was compelled to take legal proceedings
in order to effect nuisance abatement. Further proceedings had to be taken in 11
cases, again as set out in the Report, on account of subsequent failure to comply with
abatement orders made by the Cburt.
Supervision of Food and Food Hygiene
All food premises whatever their nature, trading in food, are required to comply
with the requirements of the Fbod and Drugs Act and the Fbod Hygiene Regulations, and
all such premises are liable to inspection under the Acts by the Department's
Inspectors, whose work is summarized in this Report. The number and variety of food
premises listed, however, is a measure of the size of the Borough's problem. There
are, for example, over 160 butchers, nearly 500 cafes, restaurants, canteens and
clubs, approximately 450 grocers and provision merchants, wholesale and retail, over
250 public houses and beer houses, and so on. It is, therefore, obvious that the
maintenance of a good standard of hygiene in all these premises must be a matter of
personal willingness and acceptance of personal responsibility on the part of the
owners and of those who act for them. There is also a responsibility to maintain a
good hygiene standard on the part of every person who handles food.
The Department's Inspectors inspect food premises and take action if necessary,
but the handling of food safely and hygienically requires care and understanding at
all times. Although food premises must comply with statutory standards once opened,
they are not obliged, except for certain limited classes of foods, to inform the
Authority when commencing business, with the result that some premises when first
seen are found to be unsuitable in some respects. The Committee and the Council have
in the past pressed for prior registration of premises such as restaurants and cafes
in order that their suitability could be confirmed before opening. If this were done,
it would both ease the work of the Department and be a more satisfactory procedure
for conscientious food traders because they would have prior information of the
installations considered necessary to comply with the Acts, instead of being required,
through insufficient knowledge, to make alterations after opening.
The Report contains a summary of legal proceedings which had to be taken in 43
cases for various contraventions and departures from the requirements of the Food
Hygiene Regulations and the Fbod and Drugs Act.