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11
a mere rumour of action in the direction of clearance or compulsory
acquisition for housing purposes is sufficient to cause enormous difficulty
in enforcing maintenance of properties in a reasonably habitable condition,
and since it may be a considerable time before any decision is
reached with regard to clearance and the procedure to be adopted
throughout the County, efforts must be made to keep all property free
of public health nuisances even in the most unsatisfactory inhabited
dwellings under the powers contained in the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936.
Action under Section 9 of the Housing Act, 1936 is more comprehensive
in scope than under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936 and
is aimed at bringing about repairs which will keep a house sanitary and
reasonably comfortable for a period of several years. It is not limited
to dealing with individual major nuisances.
In the southern half of the Borough there are 1,479 dwellings at
present considered suitable for action under Section 9. A few of these
will probably, on detailed inspection, be found to require such an amount
of repair that it will be unreasonable to proceed under Section 9.
It is obvious that considerable progress has been made throughout
the year, and this is largely due to the encouragement given to the Public
Health Department by the Public Health Committee and the interest
shown in all the work by the Committee. The Public Health Department
is particularly grateful to the Chairman, Councillor D. F. A. Fox, who
has at all times been available for consultation and has made himself
personally aware of the responsibilities and problems of the Public Health
Department.
We have had as usual the assistance of Dr. S. King, whose knowledge,
gained through many years of service in the Borough, has always been
available to the Department.
Dr. C. F. Stott, the Deputy Medical Officer on the temporary staff,
has visited a number of difficult cases of old and infirm people and infectious
disease during the year and his assistance has been most valuable
to the Department.
Finally, I have again to thank the Administrative Officer, Mr.
Stedman, and all the staff for the efficient manner in which the work of
the Department has been carried out during the year and for their loyal
co-operation which, combined with the support of the Public Health
Committee, did so much to smooth out the many difficulties which arose
during the year.
G. H. DART,
Medical Officer of Health.