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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
At the beginning of 1973 a review of the Special Services Section of the Public Health
Inspectorate was carried out by the Council's Management Services Unit. The Special Services
Section covers work primarily in the areas of food, clean air, noise, factories, offices and shops as
well as consumer protection and public control functions. The investigation confirmed that routine
work objectives were not being maintained, particularly in connection with inspection of food
premises, due to pressures and contraints in other fields.
As a result, the Council agreed to increase the establishment of officers by the addition of one
post of Senior Public Health Inspector, two positions of basic Public Health Inspector and one
Technical Assistant, in effect creating four area teams instead of three. These revised arrangements
should provide for an increased frequency of inspections and go a long way to achieving higher
standards.
At the same time the opportunity was taken to allow one of the Senior Public Health Inspectors
to act as Noise Advisory Officer without normal district inspection duties.
Unfortunately, however, due to retirement, internal promotion and extended sick leave, the staff
situation has worsened. At the end of the year the effective number of Public Health Inspectors
available in the four teams of the Special Services Section was 50% under established strength. In
common with other London Boroughs the Council has been unable to attract applicants for the basic
post of Public Health Inspector. It has had to rely on its students qualifying and remaining with the
Borough, the supply of which does not meet the demand, in spite of the fact that the establishment
of students (14) exceeds the number normally allowed by the Public Health Inspectors Education
Board.
Mr. R.S. BARBER
The retirement of Mr. R. S. Barber, Barrister-at-Law, Senior Meat Inspector on 30th June was
reported to the Council. Mr. Barber commenced duty as assistant to the Meat Inspector of the
former Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury in August 1932. He later obtained his professional
qualifications and subsequently was appointed Senior Meat Inspector to Finsbury Council, a position
which he continued to hold on the amalgamation of Finsbury with Islington to form the London
Borough of Islington.
Mr. Barber became a Visiting Lecturer at the College of Distributive Trades, Department of Food
Commodities, and was elected a Fellow of the Association of Public Health Inspectors in 1960. In
1966, a further honour was conferred on him as a result of his appointment as an Examiner in Meat
Inspection for the Public Health Inspectors' Diploma. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of
Health in 1970.
During his local government service of nearly 41 years Mr. Barber established himself as an
authority in his field and was called upon many times to read papers at Conferences and Seminars.
At all times Mr. Barber carried out his duties most efficiently and was a popular and loyal member of
the staff. When he retired the Council lost the services of an officer of outstanding merit.
WATER SUPPLY
Water supplies within the area are provided by the Metropolitan Water Board. No artificial
fluoride is added to supplies which were otherwise satisfactory both as regards quality and quantity
during the year.
SEWERAGE & SEWAGE DISPOSAL
No major defects or difficulties were encountered during the year arising from the Borough's
sewer system.
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