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2
Prefatory Letter to the Chairman and Members of the Council.
URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL OF CHISLEHURST AND
SIDCUP.
To the CHAIRMAN and MEMBERS of the COUNCIL.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my duty and privilege to submit to you my second Annual
Report and the sixteenth such report since Chislehurst & Sidcup
became an Urban District in 1934.
On January 1st, 1949, Dr. Carter-Locke was appointed as my
Deputy, giving 50 per cent. of his time to Area duties.
As the Members know, the County Council terminated, on
December 31st, an agreement whereby 10 per cent. of my time as
Medical Officer of Health to the combined three Authorities, Bromley,
Chislehurst & Sidcup, and Orpington was lent to the County Council
for duties as Area Medical Officer to Area No. 7, which comprises
the above three authorities, together with Beckenham and Penge. In
addition to this 10 per cent., a—further 50 per cent. of Dr. CarterLocke's
time was likewise allocated.
These Area appointments were replaced by a whole-time Assistant
County Medical Officer who now acts as Area Medical Officer for
both Area No. 6 and Area No. 7. This action by the County Council
breaks the link between the environmental services of the Local
Authorities and the personal Health Services, a cleavage which, in my
view, is unwise and the effect of which must be left to the judgment
of the future.
To turn to a matter on which I focused your attention last year,
viz., the hygienic preparation and handling of food-stuffs. In this
connection there have been two important developments during the
past year. Firstly, your Council has decided to adopt the Model
Byelaws re the handling, wrapping and delivery of food and the sale
of food in the open air. These Byelaws should be of considerable
assistance in ensuring a cleaner food supply, particularly as the general
public are now becoming very conscious of the importance of such
measures and will, no doubt, co-operate with the Department in
seeing that the Byelaws are enforced.
Secondly, Mr. Allen and the Sanitary Inspectors have now completed
their survey of kitchens, cafes, restaurants, etc., where food is
prepared for communal feeding. Beneficial results should certainly
accrue from their advice in view of the fact that such excellent
co-operation was received from the traders concerned.