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The result of living under the conditions which obtain at Isleden House is reflected in the wellbeing
of the elderly residents and their longevity, coupled with the very infrequent use made of
the Sick Bay for treatment of the residents. This allows the Sick Bay to continue to receive
patients from St. Bartholomew's Hospital (a total of nearly 600 having been admitted since 1954)
and also to receive elderly tenants from the Corporation's housing estates, in need of rest and
medical attention.
The erection of new flats on the extension to the Corporation's housing estate at Golden
Lane was commenced in March 1960 and it is expected that the first of three blocks of flats will
be completed by June 1960 and the whole of the extension scheme, comprising 275 flats, shops,
garages and ancillary buildings, by April 1961. The redevelopment of the Corporation's Avondale
Square Estate will be commenced early in 1960 but the redevelopment of the housing estates in
Holloway and adjoining the Metropolitan Cattle Markets in Islington is still in abeyance pending
agreement with the London County Council on the use of the vacant site of the sheep lairs to the
west of the market.
The improvements to the Freemens Houses at Ferndale Road, Brixton, are well forward and
should be completed by June 1961.
I am indebted to Mrs. Rita Cohen, Hon. Welfare Officer and Hon. Secretary of the City of
London Old People's Welfare Association, for the following report :—
"During 1959 the City of London Old People's Welfare Association has concentrated its
activities in extending established services and in maintaining friendly contact with the over
60's in, and of, the City for whom the Association accepts responsibility.
"These services include — Chiropody, Club facilities, Convalescent Holidays, Employment
Schemes, Home Help and Night Attendance, Mid-day Meals and Recreational Activities.
"As a voluntary organisation this Association acts as a group of good neighbours and tries
to ease the burden of those who through sickness, old age, physical or mental disability, cannot
provide for themselves, adequate help."
RODENT CONTROL
Mr. J. Carter, the Rodent Officer, reports as follows —
In compliance with the provisions of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, it is the
duty of every Local Authority to take such steps as may be necessary to secure as far as practicable
that their district is kept free from rats and mice and in particular :—
(a) From time to time to carry out such inspections as may be necessary for the purpose
aforesaid ;
(b) To destroy rats and mice on land of which they are the occupier and otherwise to keep
such land as far as practicable free from rats and mice;
(c) To enforce the duties of owners and occupiers of land under Part 1 of this Act, and to
carry out such operations as are authorised by those provisions;
(d) To keep such records and make such reports relating totheir functions under this part of
this Act as may be required by any directions given by the Minister of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food.
For the purpose of implementing the aforementioned provisions, organisation and procedure
of the Rodent Department was similar to that of previous years, comprising inspection of properties
to ascertain the presence of rats and/or mice, treatment of any such properties found to be
infested, recommendation of structural and incidental proofing, and periodical maintenance control
measures for the destruction of rats in the City sewers.
No difficulty has arisen necessitating statutory action to resolve the problem and the cooperation
of occupiers and owners has been most satisfactory.
A total of 1,764 occupancies and properties were inspected. These properties ranged from
new buildings in varying stages of construction, riverside food warehouses and other premises,
public and private catering establishments, blocks of offices, shops and factories, to domestic
dwellings.
Altogether 545 infestations of rats and mice were the subject of control measures, and of
this number 331 infestations were notified by owners or occupiers, and 242 infestations were
found, by inspection.
This total comprised 3 major and 50 minor infestations of rats, and 25 major and 467 minor
infestations of mice. Treatment of these infestations entailed 4,186 visits for operational
purposes.
In the application of control measures for rat infestation, 3,835 prebaits and 385 poison
baits were laid. These measures resulted in a minimum estimated kill of 399 rats, of which 162
bodies were found. The use of warfarin anticoagulant baits for mice resulted in 886 bodies being
found. No records are available of the results obtained by Pest Control undertakings servicing
premises periodically.
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