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Four pupil public health inspectors were on the staff at the beginning of the year. One resigned
during the year leaving two vacancies.
The Rodent Officer and four operatives are employed in the destruction of rats and mice, and two
labourers on vermin disinfestation. drain testing and general duties.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE AREA
The majority of houses inspected during the year followed complaints from tenants; there was no
systematic house-to-house inspection. Unfortunately many tenants approach the Public Health Department
only when the defects are serious and costly to remedy.
Demolition and Closing Orders (Table 25)
One demolition order and eight closing ord ers were made during the year.
The owners of two houses were prosecuted during the year for allowing occupation of basements
where closing orders had been made. One was fined £20 with £10 10s. costs, and the other £5 with £3 3s. Od.
costs.
Slum Clearance and Area Redevelopment
During the year three houses in Stonebridge Park were represented as a slum clearance area. The
survey of the Church Road Comprehensive Redevelopment Area, bounded by Craven Park, Church Road,
Neasden Lane and the L.M.S. Railway line continued. A survey was commenced of the remainder of Carlton
Ward not at present included in the South Kilburn Redevelopment Area. The Minister of Housing and Local
Government confirmed, with modifications, the Middlesex County Council scheme of the Stonebridge Proposed
Redevelopment Area comprising 1,291 houses, which had formed the subject of a public inquiry on 8th June,
1960.
Overcrowding
There has been little change in the extent of overcrowding which still remains acute. Very few
licences under section 80 of the Housing Act, 1957, were issued to permit temporary overcrowding (Table 26).
The Housing and Estates Manager has kindly supplied the details of overcrowding in the area, which
have been based mainly on statements of housing applicants (Table 26), and also details of new dwellings
constructed during the year (Table 27).
A house owner was prosecuted twice for contravening the overcrowding provisions of the Act. He
was fined £5 with £5 5s. Od. costs on the first occasion for permitting overcrowding, and subseqeuntly £20
with £3 3s. Od. for allowing the overcrowding to continue.
Notices served under the Public Health Acts, 1936 and 1961, and Housing Acts, 1957
There was a slight decrease in the number of statutory notices served during the year compared with
1960 (Table 28).
Details of the inspections carried out during the year are shown in Tables 29 and 30. Four inspectors
were engaged on special surveys—one on the proposed redevelopment area, one on the proposed improvement
area, and two on the smoke control areas.
Rent Act, 1957
Details of the applications received and the certificates issued up to the end of the year are shown
in Table 31.
Nuisances abated and improvements made
A summary of nuisances abated and improvements made is shown in Table 32.
Inspection of factories, outworkers' premises and food premises
A summary of inspections of the above premises is shown in Table 30.
CLEAN AIR
The Clean Air Act, 1956, came into full operation on the 1st June, 1958. With certain temporary
exemptions the Act prohibits the emission of 'dark smoke' from all chimneys and provides for the establishment
of smoke control areas. Steady progress continues to be made in the establishment of such areas.
The No. 3 (Church End/Roundwood) Smoke Control Area, covering 380 acres, with 5,057 dwellings.
378 commercial, 52 industrial and 20 other premises, was confirmed by the Minister of Housing and Local
Government in April and came into operation on 1st November, 1961.