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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. It was
necessary to serve 15 such notices during the year, and the Council
carried out the work in default of the owner on five occasions.
Dustbins.
During the year, 21 notices were served under Section 12 of the
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1954, concerning the
provision of dustbins, and 66 dustbins were provided, 2 being supplied
by the Council in default of the owners, from whom the cost was
afterwards recovered.
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 136 new dwellings, and 222 plans
proposed work were deposited in connection with drainage generallyDuring
the year, 131 drains were tested with smoke—80 of these Were
found to be defective. The water test was applied on 1,231 occasions
to drains in the course of construction. 27 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. In 14 instances it was necessary
to request the Council's Solicitor to take legal action for non-compliance
with the By-laws in connection with the failure by the persons concerned
to either deposit plans or to notify the Council of the work to be carried
out; or work carried out which did not comply with the requirements
of the By-laws. In 11 instances the By-laws were complied with before
summonses were heard, but the remaining 3 cases were dealt with
the Magistrate. Fines totalling £6 0s. 0d. were imposed, and £3 0s. 0d.
costs were awarded to the Council.
Combined Drainage.
Two claims that a combined drain was a sewer were received during
the year.
In one case, following investigation of a complaint of rat infestation,
the drain common to two houses was found to be defective
A claim by the owner of one of the houses showed the common Portion
of the drain was a "sewer" repairable by the Council, and the work was
accordingly carried out at the Council's expense.
In a similar case, a drain serving four houses was claimed to be a
sewer, and this was also repaired by the Council.
Flooding. ^
Flooding occurred in the Borough during the year, the most serious
occasion being in the month of August. The flooding followed torrential
and persistent heavy rain, which overloaded the existing sewer system.
All possible help was made available to the persons affected.