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of a pet shop is defined as the carrying on at premises of any nature
(including a private dwelling and a stall or barrow in a market) of a
business of selling animals as pets or keeping them with a view to sale.
"Animal" is defined as " any species of vertebrate." Licences are
renewable annually, and a fee of 10s. may be charged for them. In
considering an application for a licence, the Council must have regard
to the need for securing;.—
(a) that animals will at all times be kept in accommodation suitable
as regards size, temperature, lighting, ventilation and
cleanliness;
(b) that animals will be adequately supplied with suitable food
and drink, and (so far as necessary) visited at suitable intervals;
(c) that mammals will not be sold at too early an age;
(d) that all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent spread
of infectious disease among animals;
(e) that appropriate steps will be taken in case of fire or other
emergency.
These matters are without prejudice to the Council's discretion to
withhold a licence on other grounds. It is also required that the licence
shall specify such conditions as the Council consider necessary to secure
all or any of the objects set out above. In this connection the Council
adopted a standard set of conditions prepared by the Metropolitan
Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee. A person aggrieved by the refusal
of a licence, or by any condition subject to which it is proposed to be
granted, has a right of appeal to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction.
Licences were issued in respect of 12 shops, and 24 visits were
made during the year.
Shops Act, 1950.
One exemption certificate was issued under Section 38 of this Act
in respect of a shop where restricted space precluded the provision of a
sanitary convenience on the premises and where the applicant was
able to secure suitable alternative accommodation within reasonable
distance.
Amongst other very numerous inspections of shop premises undertaken
during the year, thirty-five were visited for the specific purposes
of the Act, mainly as the result of complaints made. These were
principally concerned with allegations of failure to maintain a reasonable
temperature, and were all dealt with in a satisfactory manner at
the time of inspection.
In one other case a notice was issued to remedy offences against the
Act, and these were subsequently rectified in a satisfactory manner.
Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act, 1952.
This Act received Royal assent on the 1st August, 1952, but did
not come into operation until the 23rd March, 1953, the date fixed by
Order of the Secretary of State. It is enforceable by the Council, who
have authorised the Medical Officer of Health, the Deputy Medical
Officer of Health, and the Sanitary Inspectors to act on their behalf.