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9
(a) It does seem that it is in the power of the County Council to
constitute that committee in such a way that it could be much more
closely associated with the District Council, because the committee could
be so constituted as to have on it even a majority of members of the
District Council. If this were done there would be point in exploring the
possibility of using officers of the Clerk's Department and the Treasurer's
Department of the Council in the administration of the work for which
that committee was responsible.
(b) The last method of procedure is the one adopted by the County
Council in constituting its Area Committees. The method did not lead
to there being any close association between the Health Committee of
the County Council and the District Council. Circular 118/47 of the
Ministry stressed the desirability of using the knowledge and experience
of local bodies in the administration of the Part III Services. If the
committee is to achieve this, it is essential for the County Council or its
Health Committee to give to each local Area Committee greater powers
to do the work entrusted to it. The County Council has the necessary
powers to do this. Paragraph 7 of the Fourth Schedule reads: ' The
Health Committee of a local health authority may, subject to any
restrictions imposed by the local health authority, authorise any subcommittee
to exercise on their behalf any functions of the Health Committee.'
But the County Council or the Health Committee do not seem
really to favour authorising the local Area Committee to exercise on
their behalf any of the functions of the Health Committee."
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
CARYL THOMAS,
Medical Officer of Health.
Council Offices,
" Cottesmore,"
Uxbridge Road,
Stanmore, Middx.
13th June, 1953.
b