View report page

27
reports involves consultation between the Sanitary Inspectors and
other technical officers of the Council as well as interviews on the
premises with the architects and owners concerned.
Town Planning.
Two hundred and eight (ninety-eight) applications to the
London County Council under the Town and Country Planning Act,
1947, for the conversion and altering of premises, change of user and
continuation of consent were referred to the Council for examination
and comment. As a result of the Council's observations permission
was refused for certain basement rooms to be used for human
habitation where the rooms did not conform to the statutes and
regulations in force in the Borough.
Housing Accommodation: Preferential Treatment.
During the year 490(659) medical certificates were referred
to me by the Borough Director of Housing for "pointing." This
arrangement enables the necessary degree of preference to be given
to each certificate as well as bringing to notice sanitary defects
which might otherwise have escaped detection and in respect of
which no previous complaint has been received.
Immigrants from Cyprus and Malta.
The Governments of Cyprus and Malta continue to co-operate
with the Council in ascertaining the suitability of accommodation
offered to would-be immigrants by relatives and friends living in
the Borough. In each case a visit is made by the Sanitary Inspector
to the premises, and the Government concerned advised as to the
adequacy and permanency of the proposed accommodation. This
arrangement avoids overcrowding of premises and ensures that the
immigrants are adequately housed.
Land Charges Act, 1925.
Under the above-mentioned Act it is incumbent on the local
authority to keep a register of local land charges. Houses included
in clearance, improvement and redevelopment areas must be
registered, as well as houses subject to repair notices under Part II
of the Housing Act, 1936, and houses on which closing or demolition
orders have been made.
Some 1,514(1,372) inquiries were referred to the Public Health
Department during the year asking for details of notices outstanding
and orders in operation under the Housing Act. At the same time
particulars were called for of sanitary or other notices outstanding
on the properties concerned.
Housing Enquiries.
Some 350(600) communications were received during the year
from the Borough Director of Housing, the County Divisional
Medical Officer, the County Director of Housing, and from other
authorities, requesting information on the housing conditions of
persons applying for re-housing on grounds of overcrowding,
insanitary conditions and ill-health. Such information enables the
enquirer to assess the degree of priority to be given to the applicants
concerned. In each case a visit was made by the Sanitary Inspector
and a report furnished.