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MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th January, 1959, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers :— (1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of January, 1959.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st October, 1958 to 31st December, 1958.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st October, 1958 to 31st December, 1958.
(4) Analysis of the recommendations of the Estimates Select Committee on the staffing requirements of the Urban Services and Resettlement Departments for the financial year 1959/60.
He said: Amongst the papers laid on the table today appears the Analysis of staff increases proposed in the draft Estimates 1959/60. In accordance with the established convention of this Council any member who now wishes to do so is free to speak on general questions related directly to the department's establishment.
There is no formal motion and no vote will be taken.
There are several points which I should like to mention in this connexion. Firstly, in order to conform with the reorganization that has taken place within the Department over the last year, the staff are shown under four Divisions namely Headquarters, Hygiene, Cleansing and lastly General and Amenities. The Hygiene and Cleansing divisions are the descendants of the old Sanitary Division. The new General and Amenities Division reflects the increasing activity of the Council in this sphere, and includes the Parks and Playgrounds Section, which has recently taken over responsibility for beaches.
Secondly, arising out of the report of a departmental inquiry provision has been made for new posts of Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor for such specialist activities as cemeteries and transport, thus releasing qualified Inspectors for their proper duties.
Thirdly, the question of the structure of the inspectorate has received serious consideration, and a new grade of Assistant Health Inspector has been introduced. This will reduce the cost of training and enable greater use to be made of the trainees during their first two years of service. There will be greater emphasis on practical work during training.
Lastly the establishment of the Hawker Control Force is foreshadowed in the provision for one third of its eventual establishment to allow recruitment and training to commence.
MR. P. D. AU :- I rise to support the Draft Estimates before us on staffing requirements of the Urban Services and the Resettlement Department.
When I joined this Council six years ago, the Urban Services employed a total of about 4,600 people. Last year the figure rose to 6,892. Today, with all round increase in activities, the estimated personnel for the year is 8,382.
This means an increase of almost 1,500 persons, or an appreciable burden to the taxpayer. But I consider these extra dollars well spent since it will be for the betterment of the community.
In our unnaturally congested city coupled with an ever rising birth rate, we must be alert to the increasing demands on urban amenities and must meet them as they arise. May I, Mr. Chairman, point out that refuse collection rose to 50% since 1953. Animals slaughtered during last year shot up by 136,000 heads. Applications for licences for public establishments are soaring, with corresponding increase in work to deal with such applications. Hence, there is a crying need for increased personnel to cope with the staggering increase in work.
The Council is responsible for many new duties for the financial year under review. Members of the Council frequently met during the last year and made many important recommendations, which must be put into practice; that is, the introduction of Health Education which is now one of the key programmes, the enforcement of new by-laws recommended by the Law
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