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196
Of the 17 office premises inspected, in only one, viz., that of
the Manager of a Funeral Furnishers, was the number of lumens
per square foot found to fall below 25. He preferred to maintain
a subdued standard of lighting by reason of the nature of his
business.
During inspections carried out in November, retail shops
and stockrooms, etc., were found generally to have satisfactory
standards of lighting although, with the exception of newly erected
self-service stores, the lighting of each stockroom was below that
of the respective shop. However, in only 3 instances was it
considered necessary to serve notices.
Defective Dwellings.—Repairs—With regard to houses
found not to be in a reasonable state of repair, the following procedure,
classified under two headings is generally adopted :—
(1) Complaints from or on behalf of the occupier.—The
District Public Health Inspector makes inspection and a preliminary
Notice is sent to the owner specifying the work necessary
to abate the nuisance. Where necessary, the circumstances are
reported to the Health Committee for authority to serve a Notice
to enforce abatement of the nuisance. The premises are reinspected
and, if work required is not executed within a reasonable
period, an Abatement Notice is served. In cases of noncompliance
the Town Clerk is instructed to institute proceedings.
Hitherto, under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, it was
obligatory to serve an Intimation Notice but only to specify the
nature of the nuisance.
(2) Housing Defects.—These are cases where the conditions
are such that they cannot be remedied under the procedure of the
Public Health Act, 1936, and are dealt with under the Housing
Act, 1957, as being houses unfit for human habitation. Representations
are made to the Health Committee to consider as to
whether such houses can be repaired at a reasonable cost having
regard to the value of the premises, or whether Closing and
Demolition Orders should be made.
Pigeon Nuisance.—A local authority is enabled by Section
74 of the Public Health Act, 1961, to deal with nuisance arising
from the congregation of pigeons believed to be ownerless.
During the year, 44 complaints were received and, where
justified, arrangements were made to reduce the pigeons to a
reasonable number by members of the Rodent Control staff or
a pigeon catcher engaged by the Council.