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PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
Under Section 87 of the Public Health Act, 1936, a local authority may provide
public conveniences in proper and convenient situations.
The Council has provided 56 public conveniences and in addition has arranged
by agreement with the London Transport Board and the brewers concerned for
the use of conveniences at the Southgate and Oakwood Underground Stations and
at eight public houses in the Borough.
The Health Department is responsible for the staffing, cleansing and maintenance
of all public conveniences, including those sited in parks and open spaces.
Eleven of the public conveniences are staffed whole-time, the remainder
receiving regular attention from mobile teams of cleaners, or from part-time
cleaners. It is the Council's intention to provide a first-class service throughout the
Borough and several conveniences which are unattended were to have been staffed
full-time during the year. Unfortunately, prevailing economic circumstances have
caused a temporary postponement of this proposal.
Unattended conveniences, particularly those sited in open spaces, are frequent
targets for the activities of vandals and often present a battle-scarred appearance
due to the damage and the protective measures taken to limit damage. Regrettably,
the genera] public has to suffer for the anti-social behaviour of the few.
REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
Under Section 72 of the Public Health Act, 1936, a local authority may, and
if required by the Minister shall, undertake the removal of house refuse. Other
provisions relating to refuse collection and disposal are made under other sections
of Part II of the Act.
Powers to deal with accumulations of rubbish on a vacant site in a built-up
area are provided under Section 34 of the Public Health Act, 1961.
Under Section 51 of this Act, authority is given for the provision of receptacles
for refuse and litter in any street or public place, and the emptying of such
receptacles.
Certain provisions in respect of refuse are also contained in the Middlesex
County Council Act, 1956.
Refuse collection is a function of the Department of the Borough Engineer and
Surveyor and is directly provided by the Council staff and vehicles. Over 190 men
operating 35 vehicles are employed on refuse collection. The present fleet of
vehicles comprises a mixed variety of types but it is ultimately intended to have all
the larger compression type vehicles to cope with the modern bulky, lightweight
refuse. The scheme for dustless refuse collection, which is more hygienic and
improves the working conditions of refuse collectors, has been continued and
extended.
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