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31
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 the 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 1,022 cases were considered and awarded points where appropriate, on medical
grounds. In addition 228 applications for transfer on medical grounds were dealt with.
Work in Default
Where Notices have been served and the statutory procedure has been finalised and the owner has
failed to comply with any Notice served, the work is carried out in default by Private Contractors
instructed by this Department.
Housing Act 1969
Applications are still being received and are being dealt with by this Department. Where it is
considered obligatory so to do Certificates are issued or refused.
CLEAN AIR
(Table 32)
The national shortage of solid smokeless fuels caused the Council to defer until April 1971 consideration
of Smoke Control Order No. 7 which was to become operative in 1970. The Council also considered
it necessary to suspend from 12th November, 1970, until 31st March, 1971, 40 per cent of the total premises
covered by Smoke Control Orders in the Borough (13 Smoke Control Orders altogether).
Volumetric analysis of sulphur dioxide and measurement of smoke concentration continued at Kilburn
High School and at the G.P.O. Research Station. Measurements are now also being made at Kingsbury
High School.
Thirty notifications of installation of new boiler plant were received in accordance with Section 3 of
the Clean Air Act 1956, and the heights of 13 new chimneys were approved.
INSPECTION OF FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES
(Tables 33—35)
An increased number of visits to food premises were made (12,454 compared with 8,870 in 1969)
and occupiers were notified of breaches of the Regulations except those cases for which immediate legal
proceedings were authorised.
On 9 occasions it was found necessary to seize food contaminated by rodents or which was otherwise
unfit for human consumption. Legal proceedings under the Food and Drugs Act 1955 were authorised
in each instance and 6 cases have been heard resulting in a total of £428 fines and costs.
Legal proceedings were taken relating to thirteen food premises under the Food Hygiene (General)
Regulations 1960 and the Food Hygiene (Market Stalls and Delivery Vehicles) Regulations 1966 resulting
in a total of £732 fines and costs.
INSPECTION OF POULTRY
There is no slaughtering of poultry carried out in the Borough. The number of visits made to
premises dealing with ready plucked table birds was 164. Disease was not found in birds being offered for
sale in the shops.
It is not practicable to institute a system of inspection to cover the 130 shop premises at which a
great number of birds are dressed every week, often at irregular times. Butchers usually retain carcases
of which they had any doubt, for examination by the Inspectors.
PREMISES WHERE FOOD IS PREPARED
Premises which manufacture or sell ice-cream, or prepare or manufacture sausages, potted, pressed,
pickled, or preserved foods, including cooked meat or fish intended for sale, must be registered by the Council.
If the Council refuses or cancels a registration, the owner may, in the first instance, appeal to the Council
and if again refused he may appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction (Table 36). Fifty applications for registration
were received during the year, 40 of which related to the sale of ice-cream and 10 related to the
sale of preserved food. They were all granted.
Most of the ice-cream sold in the Borough is manufactured outside the district, and is usually prepacked.
Samples submitted have shown that the standards of production relative to contamination are good
(Table 40).
EDUCATION IN FOOD HYGIENE
Lectures illustrated with film shows, film-strips and bacteriological cultures were given to school
leavers and other interested groups.