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21
Certificates of Disrepair
Two certificates of disrepair were issued during the year, one of which referred to an application
made in 1969.
Overcrowding
(1) Number of new cases of overcrowding reported during the year 120 (35)
(2) Number of cases of overcrowding relieved during the year 22 (15)
Housing Priority on Medical Grounds
During the year under review 1,675 (1,678) medical certificates or claims for priority in respect of
applications for rehousing or transfers were considered and assessed by a Principal Medical Officer.
Local Land Charges
The number of formal enquiries dealt with and reported upon during 1970 was 10,884 (8,336),
exclusive of personal searches and supplementary enquiries.
An enquiry may, of course, refer to more than one property, and it is noteworthy that two of the
enquiries received during the year concerned 900 properties in the southern part of Westminster.
Tourism
It is common knowledge that during recent years the numbers of overseas visitors arriving in this
country have increased by over 20% each year. During 1970 almost 7 million overseas visitors came
to Britain, most of whom spent some of their holiday time in Westminster.
The majority of these visitors arrive between April and October, and the problems arising from
such an influx inevitably increases the work of most of the Departments of the City Council. The
Health Department must necessarily bear a large proportion of the burden of the additional pressures.
The enormous increase in the work arising from the construction of new hotels, and the conversion
of many other buildings to provide accommodation for tourists, was further stimulated by the
Government's decision not to extend the financial aid to hotels under the Hotels Development
Incentive Scheme.
Many new restaurants have been opened to provide a service for our visitors, and the high level
of activity arising from these and similar developments has added to the demands made upon all
sections of the Public Health Inspectorate.
The separate hotel section within the Department has concentrated primarily on the many
conversion schemes which have been submitted. Also, the section has been responsible for liaison
with other sections concerned to ensure that the necessary supervision in relation to building and
conversion schemes has been applied in a co-ordinated manner from the Department as a whole.
Common Lodging Houses
There are two common lodging houses in Westminster. One, accommodating 550 men is kept by
the Salvation Army at 18 Great Peter Street, S.W.1, whilst the other for 706 men at Bruce House,
Kemble Street, W.C.2 is directly controlled by the Westminster City Council.
Regular inspections of the premises are made by the public health inspectors, particular attention
being given to fire precautions, the number of lodgers accommodated, sanitary and washing facilities,
and to general compliance with bye-law requirements. Both common lodging houses were well
managed and satisfactorily maintained throughout 1970.
Facilities are provided at Bruce House for the disinfestation of any residents who require this
service together with a doctor's room in which local general practitioners can see their patients.
Arrangements also exist for regular visits to this lodging house by the Council's social workers.
Radioactive Substances Act 1960
Persons who keep or use radioactive materials are, unless exempted, required to register with the
Secretary of State for the Environment.