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91
ANNUAL REPORT
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SECTION
J. C. Kermode, m.a.p.h.i., m.r.s.h.
Chief Public Health Inspector.
The serious position arising from the shortage of professional
staff which has obtained since the inauguration of the Borough
did not improve during the year. The recruitment of four Public
Health Inspectors was more than counterbalanced by the loss of
seven. Nevertheless a determined attempt was made to step up
the work of the Section, especially the vital routine inspection of
premises so important from a preventative point of view. It should
be possible to streamline as a result of the decision to delegate to
officers certain procedures previously decided upon in Committee.
These powers of delegation, which operate in clearly defined limits,
will benefit all concerned. Not only will the Inspectors be able
to deal with items more expeditiously but the public will
have just grievances remedied more quickly, and the Committee
will find itself less burdened with routine matters.
1968 also saw the last of the Environmental Health SubCommittee
of the Health and Welfare Committee as part of the
scheme for rationalisation of Committee responsibilities. Tribute
must be paid to the diligent work of members of the SubCommittee
and its invaluable support of the officers. The SubCommittee
was instrumental in setting up the structure for
Environmental Health in the new Borough and its achievements
are very considerable.
In retrospect, the Department's main effort in 1968 was
directed towards accomplishment of the Council's Clean Air programme.
With the help of the three recently employed Technical
Officers, no fewer than 6,133 houses in three areas were brought
under Smoke Control during the year and a greater number were
surveyed with a view to establishing three further Smoke Control
Areas in 1969. Unfortunately, a Council decision, arising from
financial stringency, led to a postponement of the making of these
latter Orders.
This was particularly unfortunate as it left Bromley at the
bottom of the "smoke control table" for London Boroughs, so
far as the percentage of its area under control is concerned and
fourth from the bottom for the percentage of houses controlled.
The benefits of the Smoke Control programme, pursued in
this and other Boroughs, are now obvious for all to see. Not only
do local pollution gauges show a substantially lower reading but
buildings may now be cleaned and will remain in that condition,
traffic movement is much less hazardous and there has been no