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14
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR
for the year 1958
Town Hall,
Anerley Road, S.E.20.
27th May, 1959.
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban District Council of Penge.
Mr. Chairman, Lady and Gentlemen,
In presenting the Annual Report of the Public Health Inspectors for the
year ended 31st December, 1958, again I have to report that the department
was under strength by one inspector throughout the year; this situation happily
is no longer the case, since during April, 1959, the vacancy was filled.
In spite of the shortage of an inspector it will be seen from the report
that much work has been achieved. It was possible to commence house-to-house
inspection, which was regularly carried out each year up to the outbreak of the
war, and which is most desirable in order to have knowledge of the housing
conditions of the district.
It will be noted under the heading Rent Act, 1957, that this work has
lessened. The object of the Act was to prevent further deterioration in property
and enable increased rents to be secured subject to property being kept in a
condition of repair. In a measure this object appears to have been achieved, but
possibly not to the extent anticipated. Some owners of older property have not
taken advantage of the provisions of the Act. The same remarks apply to the
tenants who frequently suffer conditions of disrepair, although paying increased
rents.
It is difficult to ascertain the reason for this; possibly in some areas the
inhabitants consider the machinery ponderous-—machinery which requires
preparation of schedules of defects and documentation, and beyond their capacity
to overcome.
It is very significant that most of the applicants for Certificates under the
Act have been from what can be termed "middle-class" tenants.
I am indebted to the department Staff who have given loyal and efficient
service, and particularly to Mr. Bell, my deputy, who has spent many hours
after the Town Hall was closed in carrying out work under the Rent Act, 1957,
where the necessary inspections could not be made during official hours by reason
of the inhabitants of the houses being then at work.
During the year 726 complaints (excluding those in connection with rodent
infestation) were received, the great majority being concerned with housing defects
and nuisances. All complaints were investigated and appropriate action taken
where necessary.
In addition to verbal intimation of defects in premises, 385 written informal
notices and 64 statutory notices were served under the Public Health Act, 1936.
362 Intimation notices and 62 Statutory notices were complied with.
The local authority, in default of the owners, carried out works
required by two statutory notices under Section 39, Public Health Act, 1936.
The Council also did the work required by 27 notices served under
Section 24, Public Health Act, 1936, respecting defective public sewers
(previously known as combined drains).