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The Housing Act, 1969, opened up new potentialities to the Borough for improving the housing stock
in its area. The department undertook a "condition of dwelling" survey as a basis for the designation of
"general improvement" areas and for decision on ultimate action under the Act.
Public health inspection also merged the functions of the two metropolitan boroughs with certain
general public control functions of the London County Council. The Offices, Shops and Railway Premises
Act, 1963, had its first full year of operation in 1965; and in following years a number of new statutes and
regulations brought new functions to the inspectorate, e.g. in regard to smokeless fuels, tall buildings and
industrial emissions, food and drugs, markets and stalls, meat inspection and refreshment houses. The
Greater London Council (General Purposes) Act, 1968 tightened the regulation of night cafes and brought a
considerable accession of work.
The growth of work in the department was shown by the increased number of officers from 507 in
1965 to 569 in 1969, with a parallel increase in the number of hours of manual workers. A corresponding
growth was reflected in the cost estimates, which (including the school health service) totalled £1,259,455
in 1969/70 as against £997,420 for 1965/6.
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