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III. SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES
The District Public Health Inspectors' served 2,713 notices during
the year, and in 40 cases legal proceedings were employed to enforce
compliance therewith.
Another duty to fall upon the Public Health Inspectors during the
year was the enforcement of the Council's Byelaws as to artificial
lighting of common staircases in tenement houses and flats, which came
into operation on 1st April. In addition, this year's London County
Council (General Powers) Act transferred to the Borough Council the duty
of enforcing the provisions of Section 38 of the Shops Act, 1950, relating
to lighting, facilities for taking meals, and washing facilities
for employees.
At the end of the year the Department was still four below the
establishment of district inspectors. The Working Party on the Recruitment
and Training of Public Health Inspectors estimated that 200 new
inspectors were needed each year to make good the shortage. The numbers
qualifying were 82 in 1955, 117 in 1956, 127 in 1957, and 174 in 1958.
Certificates of Disrepair (Rent Act, 1957).
During the year 238 applications were received from tenants for
Certificates of Disrepair under the Rent Act, 1957. The Council exercised
its right under paragraph 5 of the First Schedule to the Act in
refusing to accept undertakings from landlords in respect of 18 premises.
Legal proceedings were taken by the Council against the landlords of 5
premises where notices of increase of rent served upon the tenants
embodied the statement that no certificate of disrepair was in force at
the time, whereas in fact such certificates were in force. Fines and
costs were imposed in three cases, an absolute discharge being granted
in the other two.
Clean Air.
Certain provisions of the Clean Air Act, 1956, came into operation
on 31st December, 1956, namely those relating to the installation of new
furnaces, smoke control areas, height of chimneys, and research and
publicity. The remaining provisions of the Act came into force on 1st
June this year, including those relating to the prohibition of dark
smoke from chimneys, measures for dealing with grit and dust from furnaces,
abatement of smoke nuisances, and the application of the Act to
railway engines, vessels and Crown premises. The Minister of Housing
and Local Government made regulations during the year dealing with
permitted periods of emissions of smoke.
In December, details of a preliminary survey of the Borough's first
Smoke Control Area were submitted to the Minister of Housing and Local
Government for his observations. In March, 1959, the Minister gave
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