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OFFICES. SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES (HOISTS AND LIFTS) REGULATIONS 1968
These Regulations, which came into force on 28th May- 1969, impose
requirements as to the construction- maintenance and examination of hoists
and lifts in offices, shops and catering establishments which are
registrable under the Act of 1963. Every lift must be examined by a
competent person every six months (under six months in the case of a
continuous lift and a lift not connected with mechanical power). The
competent person is usually an engineer employed by or on behalf of an
insurance company. If the lift cannot be used with safety, a copy of the
engineer's report is sent to the authority responsible for enforcing the
Regulations, During the six months of operation of the Regulation,
sixty-nine such reports were received
It was necessary to threaten to take legal proceedings against
some occupiers after second reports had shown that lifts had not been
altered or repaired to comply with the regulations.
The recommendations for the fire-proofing of night-cafes have
included the partition of lift shafts with material having an half-anhour
fire resistance, and also the provision of doors similar to those
required by the Hoists and Lifts Regulations.
Lifts in registrable premises within the Borough have been
listed.
The half-yearly inspection of a lift by a competent person does
not relieve the Council's inspectors of duties relating to the matter of
safety and the enclosing of lifts which are absolute requirements of the
principal Act, and the Regulations.
LAND CHARGES
The number of land charge enquiries dealt with during the year
was 7,152 compared with 6,081 in 1969. These concerned outstanding
statutory or informal notices, closing orders, smoke control orders.
certificates of disrepair, slum clearance, etc,
TOWN PLANNING APPLICATIONS
During the year, 1,688 applications were referred to the Health
Department for observations, compared with 1.558 in 1969. The persons
responsible for carrying out any accepted schemes were informed of the
various requirements of the Health Department before any work was
commenced. Close liaison between the officers of the Health. Town
Clerk's and Borough Engineer & Surveyor's Departments and the public
health inspectors ensured that any development which took place was in
accordance with the relevant Acts and Byelaws relating to health.
LICENSING ACT 1964
Two hundred and thirty-seven copies of applications to the Licensing
Justices (restaurant or residential 127 clubs 15 and public houses 85)
for licences were received during the year, and inspections were made in
each case to ensure that there were no breaches of the Food Hygiene
(General) Regulations- 1960, and that there was sufficient and properly
sited sanitary accommodation for the use of patrons.
In addition to the above, 23 copies of applications in respect of
Off-Licences were received and the premises were inspected to ensure that
they complied with the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960 and the
Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963.