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67
OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT. 1963
The inspection of premises has proceeded throughout the year although
not with the speed desired, as a result of staff shortages and additional
legislation. Nevertheless much has been accomplished, and by the increased
number of complaints and requests for advice on the various requirements of
the Act from architects, builders, employers and members of the public, it is
apparent that there is a growing awareness of the existence of an Act of
Parliament containing wide provisions for the welfare of office and shop
workers.
Properties in the Borough are continually undergoing change, and it is a
common experience to inspect individual offices and shops consecutively in
a road and, within a year or so of completion, demolition of large areas for
redevelopment has taken place. The town centre particularly, has been affected,
but this is inevitable in a rapidly developing shopping area such as
Croydon.
A new estate, the Whitgift Centre, including over 200 offices and shops,
together with a tower block of offices, is rapidly undergoing development,
and frequent visits have to be made to the site to meet architects, ventilating
and heating engineers and intending shopkeepers in addition to examining
and reporting on the plans prior to submission to the appropriate Committee of
the Council.
The practice of inspecting all plans relating to offices, shops, warehouses
and factories continues. During the year no fewer than 930 plans have
been inspected and reported upon. Particular vigilance, in inspecting plans,
has to be given to those parts of the properties to which the public are not
admitted, and strict observation is kept on the proposed means of access to
lift motor rooms, lift towers, boiler rooms etc. to which mechanics and
maintenance staff must have access, not overlooking the fact that the
Council's Inspectors must also inspect such parts of the building in the
course of their duties. Adequacy and safety of access to loading docks also
receives attention.
In connection with general inspections, accumulations and deposits are
frequently found. Some employees, particularly those of a lethargic nature,
look for some place to deposit unwanted articles rather than deposit them in
the refuse collection area. In the course of time (and apparently unnoticed
by senior officers) passages and rooms become packed with unwanted stock
and rubbish. In some cases it has been found necessary to request the fire
Authority to co-operate in order to require occupiers to clear premises of
inflammable refuse.
Laundry receiving offices, without hot water facilities as mentioned in a
previous report, are still being found. In one such office, during 1969, the
only means of washing and supply of drinking water was a standpipe tap in