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The London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1955.
Section 25 of the above Act relative to choked drains was used on
forty-three occasions. This Section enables a notice to be served upon
an owner or occupier to clear a stopped-up drain, water closet or soil
pipe, within forty-eight hours. If the notice is not complied with the
Council may carry out the work and recover the cost. It was necessary
for the Council to do the work on fourteen occasions.
Section 26 enables the Council to re-instate a water supply to a
dwelling after the supply has been withdrawn by the Metropolitan
Water Board following a defect in the supply pipe or fittings. Notices
were served on thirteen occasions and in each case the Council did the
work in default.
Authority has been given by the Council to the Medical Officer of
Health, the Deputy Medical Officer of Health, and the Chief Public
Health Inspector to serve Section 27 notices on behalf of the Council
to remedy nuisances within a specific time where unreasonable delay
would be occasioned by following the normal procedure, but it was not
necessary to serve any such notices during the year.
Drainage Work.
Drainage work to new premises, reconstruction of drains to existing
premises, and drainage in connection with conversion schemes, are
carried out under the supervision of the officers of the Department.
Drains were constructed to 79 new dwellings, and 159 plans of
proposed work were deposited in connection with drainage generallyDuring
the year, 85 drains were tested with smoke—37 of these were
found to be defective. The water test was applied on 540 occasions
to drains in the course of construction. 17 frontage drains (the length
of drain between the house property to its connection with the sewer)
were constructed or reconstructed. This work is carried out by the
Council's workmen under the supervision of the Inspectors.
Drainage and Watercloset By-laws made by the London County
Council are enforced by the Council.
During the year, 6 summonses for non-compliance with the
Drainage By-laws, and 1 for non-compliance with the Watercloset
By-laws, were issued. Fines totalling £6 were imposed, and £1 10s. Oncosts
awarded to the Council.
Combined Drainage.
No claims were made against the Council in connection with combined
drainage.
Local Land Charges.
Enquiries relating to Local Land Charges in connection with
Notices served by the Department, information concerning the issue of
Disrepair Certificates, and the way in which premises are drained, are
regularly received. These enquiries require a careful search of records
and drainage plans. During the year, 1,089 enquiries were dealt with