View report page

69
In the circumstances, we have no alternative but to inform the Council of
the regret expressed by the Secretary of State at the retrogressive decision
made by the Council against the principle of fluoridation of water supplies.
We have also congratulated the Medical Officer of Health upon his report.
The Council adjourned the item and resumed the debate on 10 September 1969.
On this occasion the Council also had the Department of Health and Social
Security Circular and report on 'Fluoridation Studies intheUnited Kingdom and
the Results Achieved after 11 years' before it. After debate the Cbuncil resolved
That having considered Department of Health Social Security Circular 8/69
and the request of the Secretary of State to give further consideration to the
fluoridation of water, this Council calls upon the Secretary of State to recognise
the impossibility of securing unanimity among the health authorities
in the area of the Metropolitan Water Board and requests him to take this
matter out of the local government arena and to introduce legislation to implement
the recommendations contained in the report entitled "Fluoridation
Studies in the United Kingdom and the Results Achieved after Eleven Years'.
On 22nd October pursuant to a notice duly given, the Council resolved
(1) That pursuant to Standing Order 23, the Standing Orders of the Council
be suspended so far as necessary to enable the following motion to be
moved, discussed and resolved upon at that meeting.
(2) That the resolution passed by the Council at their meeting on 10th
September 1969 with regard to fluoridation of water supplies (Item
158, pp. 125 and 126 of the agenda) be rescinded and that the Council
re-affirm their opposition to the fluoridation of water supplies and
in so doing, instruct the Town Clerk to draw the attention of the
Minister of Health and Social Security to a recently publicised experiment
in supplying fluoridated milk to school children as this
would have the advantage of -
(a) avoiding compulsory mass medication of adults who do not need or
want it;
(b) supplying fluoride only to the section of the community able to
benefit from it.
At its meeting on 3rd December, 1969, Council discussed the views expressed
by the London Boroughs Association which were that fluoridation is such an important
national issue that it should be taken out of the arena of local
Government and, since there seems to be little prospect of achieving unanimity,
they have informed the Minister that he should himself decide whether or not
fluoridation should be nationally implemented.
After debate it was resolved
That the action taken by the London Boroughs Association be supported;
that the Council rescind the resolution adopted at their last meeting; and that
the resolution passed by the Council at their meeting on 10th September, 1969
(Item 158) be re-adopted as follows:-
"That having considered Department of Health and Social Security Circular
8/69 and the request of the Secretary of State to give further consideration
to the fluoridation of water, this Council calls upon the Secretary of State
to recognise the impossibility of securing unanimity among the Health authorities
in the area of the Metropolitan Water Board and requests him to take this
matter out of the local government arena and to introduce legislation to implement
the recommendations contained in the report entitled 'Fluoridation
Studies in the United Kingdom and the Results Achieved after Eleven Years' ."