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REPORT ON THE SANITARY ADMINISTRATION
of the
DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR, 1950.
By G. A. Webber,
Chief Sanitary Inspector, Borough of Beckenham
It is my privilege to submit my sixth Annual Report of the work
of the Sanitary Inspectors.
There were many staff changes during the year, and this tends to
upset the smooth routine working of any Department. The death of
Mr. William Newman, a District Sanitary Inspector, was very keenly
felt by us all, and the Council thereby suffered the loss of a concientious
and efficient officer. Mr. Victor Jordan, who was appointed in 1949.
resigned his appointment in April, 1950, to take up duties as one of His
Majesty's Inspectors of Factories, after having been placed second in the
English examination lists for this appointment. Mr. H. R. Dawkins,
and Mr. G. W. Mathews filled the vacancies arising. There have,too,
been resignations and new appointments to the clerical staff.
There has been a decrease in the number of complaints of alleged
statutory nuisances during the year. These complaints, which come
mainly from the lower standard houses in the area, usually relate to
matters of structural and decorative repair, and it was quite normal
to receive, during any year, many complaints about the same property
For some time, however, the Department has concentrated on this type
of property, serving Notices, after complete and thorough inspection,
under the Housing Act, 1936. The complete reconditioning of many
such properties due to this work provides a reason for the decrease in
the number of complaints. The continuance of war damage repair to
all types of property in the Borough has also removed many possible
sources of complaint. During 1950, 49 houses have been completely
reconditioned, and, at the close of the year work was in progress on
71 other properties. 125 houses have been made fit in all respects since
this work was commenced. Where we are satisfied that only one or two
items require attention in a property we proceed under the nuisance
sections of the Public Health Act, 1936, and by far the larger number of
Notices are served under this Act.
Special mention should be made of the co-operation of the majority
of Owners concerned. In many instances the cost of work required
under a Housing Act Notice absorbs the net annual income of the
property for many years, and the operation of the Rent Restrictions
Acts precludes, in most cases, the increase of rental to meet these
costs. Nevertheless, whilst our sympathies may frequently be with
an Owner, particularly when that person is aged, and more than partly
dependant on the income of the property, there is always the other side
of the picture. The Local Authority's duty is clear. It should not
tolerate the occupation of unfit property, and it should be remembered
that in particularly distressing cases of financial hardship assistance
can be given to enable an owner to re-pay by instalments the cost of the
repairs.
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