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(c) If no infestation is apparent, no action will
be taken in regard to the furniture, but the walls
and ducts of new flats will be treated by spraying
with D.D.T. or with certain new smoke preparations.
(d) The sanitary inspector will re-visit the flat
after a period of six months; if necessary,
appropriate action will be taken if the flat is
found to have become infested.
The Housing and Town Planning Committee agreed to the
new proposals, subject to the carrying out of preliminary
experiments. This was done and it was revealed that whilst
the walls of old property were unaffected by liquid spray,
the walls of the new flats appeared to be incapable of
absorbing the insecticide, which tended to collect and stain
the walls.
It was, therefore, agreed to modify the proposals and
to arrange for all rooms and ducts of new flats to be treated
with D.D.T. or Gammexane in the form of smoke.
This new scheme was put into operation at the beginning
of 1954. During the year, 166 Council flats became ready
for occupation, and in 161 cases the furniture of the ingoing
families was found to be free from vermin and the tenants
were allowed to move in directly. In the remaining 5 cases,
the furniture was taken to the Council's Disinfecting Station
and treated with H.C.N, before being moved into the new flats.
Prevention of Damage by Pests
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, imposes a
duty on occupiers of premises to notify the Council of rodent
infestation, and the Council are required to ensure that
the borough is, as far as practicable, kept free from rats
and mice, The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries continue
to pay a grant of 50% of the approved net expenditure incurred.
The Council have agreed to deal with rat and mice infestation
in dwelling houses without cost to the occupiers, but expenditure
incurred in treating infestations on commercial and industrial
premises is recovered.
The Council are required to submit reports on (i) the
extent of infestation, (ii) special circumstances to which
any undue presence of rats and mice might be attributed and
(iii) the nature and extent of co-operative working with
contiguous local authorities.
The Minister has requested a report for the year
ended 31st March, 1955, and the following table gives the
details submitted for this period