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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Mr. A. J. Phillips, M.A.P.H.I., Chief Public Health Inspector
The more detailed summary of visits by public health inspectors and technical
assistants, which was begun in 1968, shows that in 1969 the total number of visits
was reduced by some 2,500, but this can be attributed to the fact that in 1968 over
3,000 visits were made as a result of the serious flooding. There are increases in
the investigation of cases of food poisoning, in house-to-house inspections and
offices and shops inspections, but a considerable decrease in the number of complaints
received.
Housing
A survey of the Borough was carried out in anticipation of the Housing Act, 1969,
to assess which areas were most likely to require redevelopment and those which
should be improved. As required by Ministry Circular 92/1969, a programme of
clearance areas for the years 1970-73 was prepared. It is hoped that this should
deal with most of the outstanding areas in the Borough. One improvement area
was surveyed for submission to the Council and further areas are in course of
preparation. Considerable work will also be involved in the issue of qualification
certificates which the Housing Act, 1969, brings into operation as a means of allowing
owners to obtain an increase in rent of controlled houses where all amenities exist
or where they are prepared to install them and where a reasonable standard of repair
of the property also exists. This should help to increase the issue of improvement
grants and be a further incentive to the improvement of houses to a reasonable
standard. Close liaison is being maintained in this work with the Rent Officer. There
were approximately the same number of houses dealt with in clearance areas in
1969 as in the previous year, but the rehousing of slightly more people was involved.
There was an increase in the number of demolition and closing orders, but in
16 cases of the latter extensive repair was carried out and the orders subsequently
revoked. Houses in multiple occupation continue to receive the attention of this
section and both management and direction orders showed a marked increase.
It was also necessary to carry out work in default in 25 cases to provide satisfactory
means of escape in case of fire.
Public Health Acts
There was a decrease in formal and informal notices served under the Public Health
Act. 1936, due no doubt to the drop in the number of complaints received. There
was, however, a slight increase of notices served under the Public Health Act, 1961.
The greatest defect was dampness, where it was necessary to deal with nearly 500
premises. Other items requiring most attention were floors, gutters, roofs, wall
and ceiling plaster, repairs or renewal of water closets and the repair or renewal of
window frames.
Factories
The number of factories in the Borough fell from 774 to 715. Two of the public health
inspectors spent a considerable amount of time on this work during the year in order
to bring the register up to date, and the total number of visits (1,198) was nearly
double that of 1968, but only in 32 cases was it necessary to issue formal notices.
Food
There was a slight drop in the tonnage at the Continental Depot, but it still exceeded
170,000 tons. Attention of importers was drawn again to several instances of incorrect
labelling. Samples were taken for pesticide residues. There was an increase
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