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25
3
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The year under review has been unusual in that following the
reorganization of the former Boroughs, the personnel of the two
environmental health sections have had to be integrated, new
contacts made and altered Public Health legislation, new in several
respects, digested and applied. It is with pleasure that I have to
report a satisfactory resolution of these matters. The shortage of
public health inspectors, which is general throughout the London
area, has kept the department fully extended, but the main work,
I am satisfied, has been covered. Five student public health
inspectors are in the course of training and it is hoped that as
and when they become qualified, their services will be available
to the Corporation. Technical assistants have been employed to
assist in the work of drainage, smoke control and the inspection
of houses in multiple occupation, under the guidance of the public
health inspectors. Details of various aspects of the work are set
out in the tables which follow.
A Slum Clearance programme to cover the ensuing period of
five years has been decided upon by the Council and work is
proceeding. Housing work in connection with slum clearance
had been carried out actively by the two former Boroughs and
only comparatively small areas remain at the moment to be dealt
with. There are, however, a number of sub-standard rented and
owner-occupied properties where conditions could be improved
by the installation of an internal water closet, bath and hot water
supply. Some owner-occupiers have taken advantage of the
standard grants available to provide additional facilities, but the
owners of rented property have not been forthcoming in this
connection.
The making of " Direction Orders " in connection with houses
in multiple occupation has resulted in the number of occupants
in several overcrowded premises being reduced and inspection of
this type of property is being actively carried on. The question
of damage and fouling caused by pigeons has been considered but
direct action has been delayed to await the deliberation of the
London Boroughs Committee, with a view to joint action by all
London Boroughs. Certainly some action is desirable to prevent the
serious fouling and damage to the fabric of buildings apart from
the possible danger to health. Work in connection with the inspection
of offices under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act
is proceeding, although the number of inspections achieved was
less than had been hoped for. However, useful experience has
been gained which should be reflected in the figures for next year.