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REPORT OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR
I have the honour to present my thirteenth Annual Report.
Coming, as it does, after unsatisfactory reports in 1960
and 1061 it is a great pleasure to be able to report that a high
standard was achieved in all branches of our work and new ground
was broken in Health Education and in the control of houses in
multiple occupation.
No staff vacancies occurred during the year, in fact due
to the return of an Inspector from military service in July the
Department enjoyed (literally) the unique experience of being
overstaffed for the remainder of the year. During this period
all arrears of work were cleared up and great strides were made
in expanding the Health Education service which was started last
year. In co-operation with the Heads of local Senior Schools
lectures were given by the Public Health Inspectors to pupils
on food hygiene; talks on this subject were also given to
groups of food handlers from provision shops, butchers shops,
cafes, canteens, and restaurants in our main shopping areas
whilst talks on a wider range of Public Health subjects were
given to various local organisations. On these occasions fill
strips and cine films were extensively used and I am indebted
to the Clerk of the Council for permission to use his Department's
cine projector and to the many commercial organisations
that have produced and readily made available, cine films of
excellent educational value.
The other outstanding development during the year was in
the control of houses in multiple occupation. In February the
Council adopted standards under Section 15 of the Housing Act,
1961, for the provision of additional amenities in houses occupied
by more than one family. Subsequently Circular 16/62
from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government offered guidance
to Local Authorities on the manner in which the new powers
in the 1961 Act should be used. It was found that the standards
already adopted by the Council were in line with the Ministry's
somewhat belated suggestions. The resolute use of the new
powers in conjunction with the use of Planning powers has kept
under control a situation that threatened to get out of hand.
The compulsory improvement and modernisation of houses, as
advocated by the General Council of the Association of Public
Health Inspectors, and endorsed by my Council, was brought one
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