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3.
The Council's Social Welfare Services exceeded, all previous records both in
amount and variety, and included more than 4000 visits to pensioners in their own
homes as well as the entertainment of more than 800 guests at the Council's
Holiday Home in Sussex (more detail on pages 2l/22).
The Council's first Smoke Control Area was confirmed by the Minister of
Housing and Local Government in October 1958, and the Council has since agreed
in principle to implement the Act for the whole Borough in 5 stages, so that by
1966 we hope the whole Borough will be controlled.
Luring the past 5 years, 1300 flats erected by the Borough Council have
had single stack plumbing provided instead of the traditional types - thanks to
the close co-operation of the Chief and Deputy Chief Public Health InspeEtors
with the Council's Architectural Department - which is calculated to have led to a
reduction of more than £20,000 in the capital costs (see page 34 ).
The L.C.C. estates have since followed suit,spreading outwards from Shoreditch.
Slum clearance, as such, has been incorporated in the plans for rebuilding
the whole Borough, ratherthan being a separate entity, and is likely to continue
in this way, even though there are still 1274 houses which will be ready for
representation within the next 5 years. The Council's method of procedure is
undoubtedly quicker, and also fairer to the owners than the methods hitherto
adopted by most authorities under the slum clearance (Part III) Clauses, and it
also ensures a more suitable site for modern blocks of flats.
The rat-destroying services have had an unusually successful year in that the
ship rat seems to have disappeared almost completely (he is the one who carried
the fleas which caused the great plagues in London, as a result of which we still
occasionally unearth thousands of human skeletons in Shoreditch). Also, the
contracts for rodent servicing of business firms have brought in more than £1200.
The absence of food poisoning in the Borough speaks well for the cooperation
of the food handlers in the Borough and is probably linked with the constant
propaganda and personal contacts which continue unabated. We trust that these
good results are spread throughout the country in association with the prodigious
quantities of foodstuffs passing through wholesalers in Shoreditch. The absence
of flies from the Borough (or their continued susceptibility to the Gammexane in
the dustbins) also must contribute, as well as the universally free handwashing
facilities available.
Paid pupillage for training Public Health Inspectors is beginning to pay
dividends in that the shortage is becoming less acute in Shoreditch, and we
should fill the gaps by the end of 1959, if luck continues.
I acknowledge with gratitude the hard work and loyalty of all in the
Department, and the willing cooperation given by so many colleagues.
Yours faithfully,
B. BROADBENT
Medical Officer of Health.
Town Hall,
Old Street, E.C. 1.
SHOreditch 76OO.