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10
Disinfecting Station:
It is with great pleasure that I am able to report the end of the
unsatisfactory state of affairs which formerly existed at the Council's
disinfecting station. Previously there had been no division between the
premises occupied by the disinfecting station and the Baths Department
with the result that it was a simple matter for persons using the baths
to wander into the disinfecting station while the treatment of verminous
and infected persons and bedding, etc., was being carried out—a situation
which might have had serious consequences in the event of an outbreak
of dangerous epidemic diseases.
Happily this possibility has now been eliminated by building a wall
between the two departments and permitting access from one to the other
only by means of a door which will give access should the necessity arise.
The use of the grounds as a dump for dilapidated iron-mongery, baths,
old piping, washbasins and rubbish of that description from other departments
is also prevented. Improvements have also been carried out by the
erection of three garages on the formerly vacant land between the buildings
and the provision of a store room and drying room, whilst the
isolation shelter has been renovated throughout. The cost of these works
amounted to approximately £1,000.
Housing Act, 1936:
The Council early in February, with the approval of the Housing
Committee, delegated to the Public Health Committee powers under
those sections of the Housing Act, 1936, which most closely concern the
Public Health Department.
During the year considerable progress was made in preliminary
inspection in the southern half of the Borough, particularly as regards
underground rooms (Section 12), individual insanitary dwellings suitable
for demolition (Section 11) and areas tentatively considered suitable
for clearance (Section 25).
The closing of dwellings and clearance of slum areas, except in very
exceptional circumstances, is prevented by the difficulty of supplying
alternative accommodation, and the whole question of slum clearance is
being considered by the London County Council and the Metropolitan
Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee with a view to a concerted plan of
action of clearance and rehousing throughout the County.
A Schedule of properties considered suitable for reconditioning under
Section 9 in the southern half of the Borough will be found later on in
the Report. Nine areas comprising 127 properties housing 182 families
are under consideration for representation under Section 25 of the
Housing Act, 1936 but, of course, no detailed information regarding the
properties concerned is given in this report as experience has shown that