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23
Rag and Bone Dealers.
Premises occupied by rag and bone dealers in the Borough are
subjected to regular inspection. During the year 114 inspections were
made. Various small irregularities found to exist were brought to
the notice of the occupiers of the premises and were remedied
without recourse to formal action.
Legal proceedings were taken against two men in respect of an
offence against that part of the by-laws which prohibits the giving of
toys in exchange for rags, and which had been reported 1 by the
Police at the end of 1949. A fine of 10s. was imposed in each case.
Fouling of Footpaths by Dogs.
Legal proceedings were taken in two cases for offences against
the Council's by-law. In one case a fine of 2s. 6d. was imposed. In
the other, the summons was dismissed absolutely under the Criminal
Justice Act, 1948.
Verminous Premises.
During the year, 392 premises, including 47 flats or houses on
the Council's estates, which were found to be infested with vermin
(principally bed-bugs) were disinfested. The usual method of treatment is by a D.D.T./pyrethrum spray.
Van Dwellings.
There are three sites in the Borough on which van dwellings
have regularly been placed for many years. The number of vans
on the sites varies from time to time. All the sites are subject to
regular inspection and are in general reasonably well kept.
Dangerous Structures.
Eighty-nine cases in which structures or parts thereof had been
noted, in the course of inspections for various purposes, as appearing
to be unsafe, were referred to the District Surveyor of the London
County Council for his attention.
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949
This Act, which came into operation on the 31st March, 1950,
repealed, and re-enacted, with many alterations and additions, the
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919. It gives power generally to
the Council to require steps to be taken to eradicate infestations of
rats and mice, and to prevent infestations. These duties are carried
out by the Rodent Officer, assisted by three Rodent Operatives.
All infestations coming to light, whether by way of complaint or
otherwise, are systematically investigated, and the appropriate action
taken. Where the cause of the trouble is obviously defective drains
or other defects in the building, the owner is called upon to effect
the necessary repairs. This aspect of the work involves close co-operation between the Rodent Control Staff and the Sanitary Inspectors.
In other cases, the occupier is called on to set traps, lay baits or take
other action as the circumstances may require. The setting of traps
and laying of baits is, on request, carried out by the Rodent Control
Staff, charges being made for this service. These charges are usually
nominal except in the case of business premises, where the cost is
charged in full.