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The Metropolitan Borough Councils are the authorities responsible
for administering the provisions relating to ventilation and
temperature of shops and sanitary arrangements.
In every shop, unless it is specifically exempted, there must be
provided and maintained suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences.
A certificate of exemption may be granted if the
authority are satisfied that, by reason of restricted accommodation
or other suitable circumstances affecting the shop, such certificate
should be in force and that suitable and sufficient sanitary arrangements
are otherwise conveniently available.
The District Sanitary Inspectors have been authorised to act
as the responsible officers for carrying out the purposes of the Act.
During the year 96 Shops Act inspections were made and two
notices were served and complied with.
RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919
The Sanitary Inspectors are the rat officers appointed by the
Council under the Act, and complaints as to infestation with rats
brought to their notice are investigated, and advice and assistance
given where necessary.
The number of complaints of rat and mice infestation received
during the year was 67, as compared with 52 the previous year. On
16 occasions drains were exposed to trace rats. In addition, poison
baits were laid down, and 16 Notices served. It is found in this
borough that the best local measure of rat control is the replacement
of old and defective drainage systems by those of modern type. This
work of replacement is continually in progress, and the necessary
supervision forms an important part of the duties of the Inspectors.
Defective airbricks are a very frequent cause of rat infestation
of individual houses by stray rats, especially in the breeding season.
Householders should pay particular attention to the condition of
all air-gratings.
During the year under review several large sites have been
cleared for rebuilding purposes and stray rats have been a source of
some concern. All possible steps have been taken to reduce the
nuisance to a minimum.
A supply of the Ministry of Agriculture's Leaflets is kept in the
Public Health Department for distribution to those seeking advice
as to measures to be taken to destroy rats.
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