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61
The "control" provisions include powers for the local authority to refuse
registration under certain circumstances and also to require works to make a
house suitable before registration. The owner has a right of appeal to the
County Court against a refusal to register, or the requirement of works.
On 9th December, 1970, the Council resolved to make a combined informatory
and regulatory scheme to cover the whole of the Borough, but excepting properties
owned or controlled by this Council and the Greater London Council.
The scheme is based on the Ministry's model scheme, and subject to confirmation,
will come into operation on 1st February, 1971.
Provision of Amenities
Section 15 of the Housing Act, 1961 enables a local authority to serve a
Notice on an owner sped ftring works which are required to render a house reasonably
suitable for the number of individuals and households accommodated for the time
being on the premises, and is extended by Section 67 of the Housing Act, 1964,
to enable a Notice to be served for works to render a house suitable for
occupation by a number of individuals and households smaller than the number
accommodated for the time being on the premises.
Three Notices were served during the latter part of the year.
Housing Act, 1969
Extensive work was carried out in connection with applications for
improvement grants and the issue of 428 qualification certificates, entailing
well over 2,500 inspections by public health inspectors during the year.
FOOD AND DRUGS
The ever increasing variety of foodstuffs being imported into the country
provides evidence that the legislative requirements of food and drugs authorities
should be standardised, perhaps by means of an international clearing house.
Varying labelling standards, standards for permitted colours in foods are examples
which indicate the need for international control. It is reasonable to assume
that effects on humans are a constant factor wherever they may be; thus the need
for regularising standards.
Imported Foods
As a result of the introduction of the-system of container-transportation
an increasing quantity of food which previously would have been inspected at the
Port of entry into the Country is now inspected by the Inspectors in the area
to which the food is consigned. Experience over the past twelve months has
indicated that as far as Hackney is concerned there is a growing demand on the
manpower available to maintain a satisfactory policy of food inspection and
one can foresee that it may well be necessary in the near future to give
consideration to augmenting the number of Inspectors undertaking this work.
The nature of the consignments are varied and comprise frozen meat, frozen
prawns, fresh fruit, confectionery, canned foodstuff and novelties.
Two consignments of novelties with sweets were detained as the chemical
examination of the sweets revealed the presence of a non-permitted colour.
In both instances the Importer extracted the sweets from the novelties and
surrendered them to the Local Authority for destruction.