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The Council charge a fee of ten shillings in respect of the grant of
a licence, and have authorised the Health Committee to act on its
behalf for the purposes of the Act. They have also authorised the
Medical Officer of Health and the Public Health Inspectors to carry
out inspections in this connection
The operative date of the Act was 1st January, 1964, and two
premises were registered during the year.
Barbers and Hairdressers.
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1954—Section 18.
The Council, under the provisions of the above-named Section,
registers all barbers and hairdressers and their premises. At the end
of the year there were 93 registered premises in the Borough, and 134
inspections were carried out.
Consumer Protection Act, 1961.
This Act repealed the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act, 1952,
and the Oil Burners (Standards) Act, 1960, but Regulations made under
the former Act concerning fireguards on certain heating appliances
offered for sale are still in force, and new Regulations have been made
concerning oil burners, specifying standards of safety, and prohibiting
the sale of oil heaters or component parts which do not comply with the
Regulations.
No contraventions of the Regulations were reported during the year.
Licensing Act, 1961.
Under Section 31 of the Licensing Act, 1961, it is provided that
where a Club applies for a registration certificate for the sale of
intoxicating liquor in respect of any premises, an Officer of the Local
Authority, authorised in writing, may inspect the premises. The Public
Health Inspectors have been so authorised. The inspection is primarily
concerned to see that adequate sanitary facilities are available, but
the Inspector is also required to report upon the suitability of the
premises for the proposed use.
Noise Abatement Act, 1960.
Since the passing of this Act, the number of complaints concerning
noise have grown considerably.
Prior to the passing of the Act, the law governing noise nuisance
in London was contained in the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1937, which provided that any "excessive, unreasonable
or unnecessary noise which was injurious to health" could be dealt
with summarily as a nuisance. The proof necessary to satisfy these
requirements before Court procedure could be instituted was often difficult
to obtain. The new Act substitutes for these words "noise which is
a nuisance", and the procedure is thereby simplified. It is not necessary
to prove injury to health, or that the noise was excessive, unreasonable
or unnecessary. With regard to industrial noise, however, it is still a
good defence to prove that the best practicable means have been used
to prevent or counteract its effect. As well as the Council having authority
to take action, any three persons who are aggrieved by a noise
nuisance can take action by complaining to a Magistrate.