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There has been a marked decline in the live birth rate from
15.66 per thousand population to 13.20 (a fall of 2.46 per thousand)
and a rise in the death rate of 0.17 per thousand population compared
with 1965, and there were 511 less live births in 1970 than in 1965.
The actual number of deaths has been a relatively stable figure, but
since the population is falling, the death rate inevitably increases. The
reduction in the number of annual births over a period of years
markedly affects the age structure of the population and this is affected
even more by migration from the Borough by people who for the
most part are not in the older age group of 65 years and over. It is
obvious that migration from the Borough is well in excess of the
numbers added to the population by the natural increase of population
and people coming into the Borough from other areas. It is
estimated that there are in the region of 27,000 people in the Borough
over the age of 65 years, or 14.8% of the population. The estimated
percentage for England and Wales is 12.8%. By 1976 it is estimated
that Merton's percentage of people aged 65 years and over will be
16.7%.
It would seem that the most effective means of checking this
decline of population would be any measures aimed at slowing down
the rate of migration of people from the Borough.
The year was one of considerable progress and of impending
change. The new Senior Training Centre at Wandle Way, Mitcham,
was completed and brought into operation in January with 39
trainees in attendance. By the end of the year 75 trainees were in
regular attendance.
The Local Authority (Social Services) Act, 1970, made provision
for implementation of the main recommendations of the Seebohm
Committee on Local Authority Personal and Social Services, which
will result in the merging in a single Social Services Department of the
services operated by the Welfare Services Department, the Children's
Department and the services operated by the Health Department in
connection with the provision of local authority day nurseries, the registration
and supervision of private day nurseries and child minders,
the mental health service, social work services aimed at prevention of
break-up of family life, the Home Help Service, and recuperative
holidays for adults on the recommendation of their family doctors.
By the end of the year plans were already well in hand for the transfer
of these services to the new Department in April, 1971, under the
Director of Social Services.
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