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60.
Rag. Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951.
This Act, designed to secure the use of clean filling materials in articles
which are upholstered, stuffed or 1ined,requires the licensing or registration,
as the case may be, of premises where rag flock is manufactured or stored or
filling materials are used. Regulations made under the Act prescribe standards
of cleanliness for filling materials.
Premises registered for the use of filling materials number 66, there
being no licensed premises. Three samples of filling materials were obtained
from registered premises during the year and all were reported as satisfactory.
Refuse Disposal.
The Cleansing Officer of the Council has kindly supplied some statistics
relating to refuse disposal for the year, given on page 107. Domestic refuse
collection can have its bizarre side. Pound by the refuse collector in the
communal refuse bin of a block of flats were 195 Chinese Weasel Skins. As the
owner could not be traced the skins were sold and the finder suitably rewarded.
Rent Act, 1957.
Twelve applications under the Rent Act 1957 were received from tenants for
Certificates of Disrepair, 3 certificates being issued.
Rodent Control.
In accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Pood,statistics on rodent control work for surface infestations carried out
by the Department during the year were submitted to the Ministry. In this
period,of 2772 dwel1ings and other premises requiring inspection some 2,401 were
found to be infested with mice or rats. Treatments were carried out by the
Department's rodent control staff in 2,880 properties, the charges for servicing
business premises amounting to £4,672. Business premises under regular
servicing contract with the Council numbered 1,481 at the end of the year.
A copy of the Return furnished to the Ministry is shown on pages no. 111.
Swimming Baths.
The water in the seven public swimming baths in the Borough and in the Bath
at the Council's Hornchurch Children's Home is sampled at monthly intervalshy
the Scientific Department of the Greater London Council on this Council's
behalf. A total of 60 samples was taken during the year.
One sample was found to be in an unsatisfactory bacteriological condition.
This was due to the chlorine plant being out of action owing to a leak.