View report page

In addition, 726 statutory notices were served and 619 complied with.
These figures do not include 172 statutory notices served and 40 complied
with under Sees. 15 & 16 plus 43 Notices of Intention and 40 Direction
Orders in respect ,of Houses in Multiple Occupation.
Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963 - Information and Statistics
(1) Registration and Inspections
As will be seen in the attached statistical report, the total number of
inspections carried out during the year was 1,085. The number of general
inspections made to premises was 577.
The majority of the other inspections were made to ensure that works and
items requested in order to ensure compliance with the Act had been completed
or were in hand.
Newly registered premises decreased slightly during 1971, and most of
these were noted during the routine street by street inspections. Most
of these new premises were offices, the total number of employees in such
workplaces having increased by over 500 in the Borough compared to last
year.
The administration of the Act and its relevant Regulations is carried out
by a full-time Section, as in previous years. This year, however, due to
shortage of staff, the section was reduced to one Inspector in September
the other one being required elsewhere in the department. It is to be
hoped that the section will return to its previous establishment when the
general staff situation improves.
In many instances, verbal warnings and advice to occupiers were sufficient
to ensure compliance with the Act in minor contraventions. As mentioned
in last year's report, the amount of time spent in consultation with owners
and occupiers of premises continues to increase, as the value of such advice
before work commences is recognised.
Visits to registered premises regarding the various aspects of the Hoists
and Lifts Regulations, and to investigate reported accidents were again
made and these are usually of somewhat lengthy duration.
Another aspect of the administration of the Act is the inspection of premises
which are to be licensed under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries
Act. On application for licence, this section is requested to ascertain
that no objections can be made regarding the requirements of the Offices,
Shops and Railway Premises Act.
Considerable time was spent during 1971 in the inspection of food premises,
due to the shortage of staff normally involved in this work.
(2) Operation of the General Provisions of the Act
Cleanliness
Once again, contraventions under this heading made up the largest group of
notices to be served under the Act, The total number of letters sent regarding
lack of cleanliness was 119. As in previous years, the larger firms
were not the mam culprits. It would appear that the fewer the staff, the
more likely it is to find the least attention paid to cleaning of offices,
shops and their facilities.
B. 7