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REPORT OF THE CHIEF SANITARY INSPECTOR
In recent years some of the many difficulties which beset
Sanitary Inspectors during the war and immediate post-war years
have eased considerably; building materials and labour for house
repairs or improvements to food preparing premises have become
more easily available, the clearance of unfit houses and the repair
of dilapidated houses has become possible, facilities have been
provided for the improvement and modernisation of old houses and
the impact upon the public of the London fog disaster of 1952
has paved the way for more effective means of action against
atmospheric pollution.
These improvements gave rise to the hope that it would soon
be possible to carry out sanitary inspection in the widest sense
of the term and it is with regret therefore that I have to report
that the shortage of inspectorial staff during the major part of the
year, coupled with an increase of work arising from the decontrol
of meat supplies and from the implementation of the Housing Rent
and Repairs Act, 1954, have prevented the fulfilment of this hope.
The year under review is therefore one of " marking time " rather
than of progress and we look forward eagerly to the time when it
will be possible to recruit a full staff and carry out sanitary inspection
in such a way that will give satisfaction to the public
and the Council as well as pride to ourselves.
Four events of outstanding importance occurred during the
year. In May, the Council agreed to embark on a five-year programme
for the clearance of unfit houses and subsequently 27
houses were dealt with. In Jul}', meat supplies were decontrolled
and, after an interval of fourteen years, private slaughter-houses
were again brought into regular use in this district. The Housing
Repairs and Rents Act came into force in August; one of the major
objects of this measure was to ease the financial burden of landlords
by permitting them, under certain conditions, to increase rents
and enable them to carry out repairs and prevent the decay of
existing houses. Experience to date indicates that the Act will
have no effect on those houses most in need of repair, i.e., the old
and neglected ones. In November, the final report of the Beaver
Committee on Air Pollution was published and gave much encouragement
to all who regard this as one of the most pressing public health
problems of the day and indicated that it is, at last, being treated
seriously.
The following report on the work of the Sanitary Inspectors
is set out under four headings:
(1) Sanitary Administration—including inspection of the district,
complaints, notices served, legal proceedings, offensive
trades, atmospheric pollution, drainage, keeping of animals,
rodent control.
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