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Magistrates on various occasions, who eventually made an order for the
work to be executed. This work was finally undertaken by the Council
the cost to be ultimately recovered by the Local Authority taking the rent
of the premises. This particular case again accentuated the difficulties that
Local Authorities and their officers are up against, because of the very low
rents still being paid in many cases, particularly when compared with the
large increase in the cost of repair works, due to higher wages and cost of
materials. The low rents being paid in so many cases reflects on the
general standard of repair of property, owners in such cases find that to
keep their houses in proper repair they have to expend, say, a year's rent
and often more, allowing nothing in the way of interest or reserves for
insurances, etc.
Works carried out on the instructions of the Council are given below-
Under Housing Act—repairs to 5 dwellings.
Under Public Health Act—drainage and public sewers reconstructed
repairs—25 properties.
Under Public Health Act—repairs—1 dwelling.
Under Public Health Act—provision of dustbins—11 bins provided
Referring to a case heard before the local magistrates and referred to in
the report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1948, it can be reported that
the Council gave instructions for negotiations to be made with a view
purchasing the house and grounds, together with the adjoining property
with the intention of using both sites for building municipally-owned
dwellings. By the end of the year these negotiations were well in hand.
Food Hygiene.
It was necessary in last year's Report to record disappointment at the
poor attendance at a public lecture and film show arranged by the Council the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. This year one has to record a further
disappointment at the attendance at a similar meeting. Although about
invitations were sent to traders and their staffs, the number of persons
attending the lecture and show was down to 25. It can be stated that in
addition to the invitations sent out by the Department, visits to shops'
proprietors and managers were made by the Sanitary Inspectors. In March
the Council arranged a civic exhibition in connection with a local celebration
and in it the Public Health Department set up a stand, a portion of which
was concerned with food hygiene, some exhibits being kindly loaned by the
Public Health Laboratories at Edgware. This stand created great interest
and was well worth while arranging. Thanks are due to the kindness
the Edgware Laboratories and the Chief Meat Inspector of Smithfield
Meat Market for the loan of some very interesting exhibits.
In spite of the amount of work being undertaken by the Sanitary
Inspectors in connection with the work at requisitioned premises, the
inspection of food premises has been stepped up, the number of visits
cafes and restaurants being doubled.
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