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73
Environmental Health
The Chief Public Health Inspector, Mr. A. Makin, reports:—
The report for 1969 is the fifth report in the life of the Borough, it is an appropriate time to
submit a progress report on the Environmental Health control in the Borough.
Full details of the work are given under the various headings, but special mention should be
made of the progress in Housing, Hygiene and Smoke Control.
As far as Housing is concerned the Slum Clearance work is virtually complete and only a small
number of worn out houses will require to be dealt with from time to time. Improvement of the
remaining stock of houses is well in hand, Improvement Areas having been declared. The incentives
of the Housing Act 1969 have produced the desired reaction, and there is already an increase in the
number of applications for Improvement Grants.
The regular inspection of food premises has resulted in a general improvement in the standard
of hygiene, but it is regrettable to report that failures are not infrequent, particularly if it is not
possible to maintain the routine visiting.
Atmospheric pollution is being reduced principally by the extension of the smoke Control Areas
and by the change in the type of fuel used for domestic heating. Perhaps one of the blessings of the
solid fuel shortage will be the conversion of more household appliances to piped fuels. In addition
to the improvement due to Smoke Control much work has been done in reducing other forms of
pollution, e.g. dust and effluvia from asbestos works, and dust from works producing road materials.
In commenting on atmospheric pollution, it is impossible to refrain from mentioning the garden
bonfire which is by far the most common complaint concerning smoke. The disposal of garden refuse
is quite a problem in Hillingdon as virtually every house has a garden. However, this problem of
nuisance would be gradually reduced if householders would compost the materials capable of being
composted and burn only dry material.
In connection with the recording of atmospheric pollution the department continues to cooperate
with the Ministry of Technology in recording smoke and sulphur dioxide concentrations,
details of which are included later in this report.
HOUSING
The objective of the department in the field of housing is to secure the repair and improvement
of dwelling houses which are capable of being repaired and ought to be preserved in order to stop
natural wastage. The Ministry of Housing and Local Government emphasised this in the White
Paper called "Old Houses into New Homes".
Following the Ministry of Housing and Local Government's White Paper came the Housing
Act 1969, operative from 25th August, 1969, which encourages owners to repair and improve
their properties with the aid of increased and more attractive financial aid. This Act also makes
provision for an owner who provides standard amenities and brings his house up to a standard
of good repair, to convert a controlled tenancy to a regulated tenancy and have a fair rent assessed
for the dwelling. Some of the emphasis on compulsion has therefore been transferred from Local
Authority to owner, but if a tenant is not willing to fall in with a landlord's proposals to improve
and repair a dwelling, and that tenant receives or would be entitled to receive a rate rebate, then it is
unlikely that the Courts would give the landlord authority to proceed with the improvements.
Other objectives are to deal with those houses which are not fit to repair and improve, but which
are best dealt with by clearance, demolition, or closure.
Multiple Occupation and Overcrowding again received as much attention as could be given to
control a situation which is growing every year.
The Council's policy of Direction Orders to limit the number of individuals permitted to occupy
houses in Multiple Occupation continued.