View report page

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Mr. A. J. Phillips, M.A.P.H.I., Chief Public Health Inspector
The detailed summary of inspections shows that the total number of visits paid by
the health inspectors and technical assistants rose by nearly 5,000 from 39,903 to
44,690. This was due partly to the filling of some of the outstanding vacancies during
the year. Complaints accounted for 5,539 visits compared with 4,948 in 1969. Inspections
for approval or advice on improvement grants rose from 1,291 to 1,563 and for
mortgages from 793 to 894. It was also possible to carry out 205 inspections of
canteens compared with 64 made in 1969. Food hygiene visits rose from 2,438 to
3,574.
Housing
There is no doubt that considerable repairs and improvement of houses were achieved
by the consideration of applications for Qualification Certificates under the Housing
Act 1969. 774 applications were received compared with 350 in the previous year. In
75 cases this included the provisions of additional amenities as the result of an
improvement grant. Close liaison was maintained with the Rent Officers in this work.
Five further surveys of clearance areas involving 158 properties were completed.
Further surveys of possible improvement areas were carried out but the number of
grants issued in the areas dealt with has so far been disappointing. However, the
number of improvement grants throughout the Borough rose sharply from 177 to
722. Houses in multiple occupation have again been given special consideration
during the year and although conditions were improved by informal action in a
number of cases, it was necessary to serve 215 formal notices for lack of amenities
and the proper means of escape in case of fire. 41 orders were made to control the
number of persons occupying the premises. It is hoped to operate a registration
scheme for this type of property in 1971.
Public Health Acts
There was a further decrease in the number of notices served under the Public Health
Act 1936. The number of informal notices fell from 632 to 374 and the formal notices
from 324 to 221. There was, however, a slight increase in the number of formal
notices served under the Public Health Act 1961, from 101 to 117. The notices related
chiefly to defective roofs and gutters, ceiling plaster and floors, dampness and the
repair of defective window frames. A considerable number of complaints of choked
drains were also investigated and most of these were subsequently dealt with by the
Borough Surveyor's department.
Factories
The number of factories in the Borough again fell from 715 to 654 but the visits to
these increased from 1,198 to 1,409. The attention of occupiers was drawn to defects
and in 49 cases it was necessary to serve written notices. The number of outworkers
continues to fall and during 1970 this was reduced from 113 to 91 of which 78 related
to outworkers making clothing in their own homes.
Food
There was an increase in tonnage at the Continental Depot from 172,000 to 204,000.
Samples were taken for pesticide residues and for prohibited dyes and preservatives.
Importers were informed of incorrect or misleading labelling. There was again an
increase in unsound food surrendered by shopkeepers from 238 to 256 tons. The
breakdown of refrigerating plants was responsible for a considerable amount of this.
There was again little change in the number of registered food premises. A further
77