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61
Unfortunately, during the six months which elapsed between the
submission of that Report and its consideration by the Establishment
Committee, the staff became seriously depleted by the loss of three Sanitary
Inspectors to neighbouring authorities.
THE POSITION NOW
In the nine months that have elapsed since I drew attention to the
inadequacy of the staff to carry out satisfactorily and promptly its statutory
duties and responsibilities under the Housing Acts and existing public health
legislation the progressive depletion of staff has led to a progressive worsening
of the position and to a consequent accumulation of arrears of work undone.
In April, 1954, the Council instructed (Minute 3040):
"that a detailed survey of all residential property in redevelopment
areas 1 and 3 be undertaken as soon as possible by the Medical
Officer of Health."
In spite of a special effort made to comply with that instruction, it has been
possible—by neglecting other district work considered to be essential—
to carry out only a small part of the work involved in such a survey.
With a staff numerically half of what is officially regarded as adequate,
and with each district inspector responsible for a population double that of
the officially recorded average for the country as a whole, it is impossible to
operate a comprehensive sanitary service, and residents in Leyton are being
deprived of roughly half the sanitary service to which they should be
entitled.
The depleted staff are now almost fully employed in dealing with
complaints and other matters requiring urgent day-to-day attention, leaving
little (if any) time for less urgent work and special duties.
Whereas the staff shortage has had a seriously adverse effect on the
quantity and quality of all branches of the work, it is to failure to comply
with the following statutory responsibilities and Government directives
that attention is specially drawn.
Housing.
Section 5 of the Housing Act, 1936, requires Local Authorities to cause
an inspection of their districts to be made from time to time in order to
ascertain whether any house therein is unfit for human habitation. The
manner of inspection, and records to be kept, are specified in the Housing
Consolidated Regulations, 1925/32.
Local Authorities are also required by the Housing Act, 1936, to see
that unfit houses are repaired, demolished, or closed.
Section 1 of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, requires Local
Authorities to submit to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government by
30th August, 1955, proposals for dealing with houses in their districts
which appear to be unfit for human habitation. This specified duty carries
with it the implied duty of making a housing survey.