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33
Overcrowding
There has been little change in the extent of overcrowding which still remains prevalent.
The Housing Manager has kindly supplied the details of overcrowding in the area, which have been
based mainly on statements of housing applicants (Table 28), and also details of new dwellings constructed
during the year (Table 29).
Applicants to the Council for mortgage for the purchase of a house, can submit a medical certificate
or a certificate of overcrowding in support of the application. These certificates are assessed and information
given to the Housing Advances Sub-Committee to assist this Committee in discriminating at the medical level.
Housing on Medical Grounds
Each medical certificate and all medical evidence provided in support of an application for rehousing,
is submitted for assessment, and points may be granted up to a maximum of 5 in respect of a medical claim.
The medical part of the evidence is carefully examined and, in order to achieve uniformity, the whole of these
assessments are made by one individual officer. It is possible for the Medical Officer to recommend a separate
bedroom if requisite and in case of exceptionally severe illness a recommendation may be made that the case
is brought to the immediate attention of the Committee.
During the year, 923 cases were considered and awarded points, where appropriate, on medical
grounds. In addition, 383 applications for transfer on medical grounds were dealt with.
Notices Served under the Public Health Acts, 1936 and 1961,
and Housing Acts, 1957 and 1961
The considerable increase in the number of statutory notices served during the previous 2 years was
maintained (Table 30).
No Management Orders under Section 12, Housing Act, 1961, were served during the year.
Nuisances Abated and Improvements Effected
A summary of nuisances abated and improvements effected in dwelling houses is shown in Table 31.
Rent Act, 1957
Details of the applications received and the certificates issued up to the end of the year are shown
in Table 32.
Work in Default
The Department assumes responsibility for carrying out work when owners do not comply with the
requirements of Statutory Notices served under the Housing, Public Health and various other Acts.
CLEAN AIR
There are 23 Smoke Control Orders in operation as shown in Table 33.
The Brent No. 5 (Preston Park) Order covering 662 acres with 4,593 dwellings and 235 commercial
and other premises came into operation on 1st July, 1968.
The No. 6 (Willesden Green) Order was confirmed by the Minister of Housing and Local Government
on 31st December, 1968, and will come into operation on 1st August, 1969. The Order covers 230
acres and contains 4,279 dwellings with 421 commercial and other premises.
The revised Smoke Control Area programme approved by the Council in the early part of the year
was later curtailed for reasons of financial stringency. A new programme and completion date have yet to
be decided.
The volumetric analysis of sulphur dioxide and the measurement of smoke concentration has continued
at two stations, Kilburn Grammar School and the G.P.O. Research Station.
Twenty notifications of new boiler plant were received in accordance with the provisions of Section
3 of the Clean Air Act and the heights of new chimneys were determined in 15 cases.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES
The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960, prescribe standards for the preparation, storage and
sale of food, and since the earlier Regulations of 1955 came into force there has been a steady improvement
in hygiene in the production and sale of food. In January, 1967, The Food Hygiene (Market, Stalls and
Delivery Vehicles) Regulations, 1966, came into operation with the object of bringing the hygiene of stalls
to the standard required in premises. Provision is made, however, for the vendors of certain low-risk foods,
e.g. fruit and vegetables, to be exempted from the need to carry full washing facilities if these are available
nearby, and ten stallholders have qualified for certificates of such exemption.
Public Health Inspectors inspect food premises and stalls (Table 34) regularly and give verbal or serve
written notice to improve the standards of food hygiene. Improvements in some premises are still either in
progress or arrangements are being made for them to be carried out (Tables 35 and 36).