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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 public health inspectors and technical assistants rose by nearly 15,000 from
44,690 to 59,560 due to some extent to the filling of some outstanding vacancies.
Complaints accounted for 6,790 visits compared with 5,539. Inspections of drainage
rose from 2,987 to 4,272. Visits to houses in multi occupation numbered 2,503
compared with 781 last year. Visits to houses regarding improvement grants rose
from 1,571 to 2,789. There was also an increase of 1,500 visits to offices and shops.
Housing
Considerable repairs and improvement of houses were achieved by the consideration
of applications for Qualification Certificates under the Housing Act, 1969. 505
applications were received compared with 774 in the previous year. In 97 cases
this included the provision of additional amenities as a result of an improvement
grant. 518 certificates were issued compared with 325 last year. Close liaison was
maintained with the Rent Officers in this work. Two Clearance Areas involving
155 houses and 457 persons were declared during the year. Further surveys of
possible improvement areas were carried out. There was an increase from 121 to
206 in the applications for improvement grants but the number of standard grants
fell from 583 to 294. 45 Special Grants were dealt with compared with 14. Improvements
completed during the year rose from 239 to 337. A scheme for the registration
of houses in multiple occupation came into force on the 1st September and at the
end of the year 195 premises had been registered. 325 formal notices were served
under the Housing Act, 1961, in respect of houses in multi occupation for lack of
amenities and the proper means of escape in the case of fire.
Public Health Acts
There was a slight increase in the informal notices under the Public Health Act
1936, 402 being served compared with 374 but the formal notices fell from 221 to
176. There was an increase from 117 to 190 in the formal notices under the Public
Health Act, 1961. The notices related chiefly to defective roofs and gutters, ceiling
plaster and floors, dampness and the repair of defective window frames.
Factories
For the first time for several years the number of factories in the Borough rose from
654 to 694 and the visits to these premises rose sharply from 1,409 to 2,293 but
in only 49 cases was it necessary to serve formal notices. It was also surprising to
find an increase in the number of outworkers from 91 to 134; of this number 123
were engaged in the making of clothing in their own homes.
Food
There was a reduction of some 14,000 tons in the imports at the Continental Depot.
Samples were taken for pesticide residues and for prohibited dyes and preservatives.
Importers were informed of incorrect or misleading labelling. The unsound food
surrendered by shopkeepers fell from 256 to 188 tons. The breakdown of refrigerating
plants was again responsible for a considerable amount of this. The number of
bacteriological samples taken was 152 which included 46 samples of ice cream.
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