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Health Inspectors. In the case of private dwellings the work of
disinfestation is carried out by the Rodent Control staff without
charge, and on request at business premises, when the cost is
charged in full.
During the year, 2,240 complaints of infestation were received
in respect of which a total of 10,599 visits were made by the Rodent
Control staff.
Offensive Trades
There is one establishment in the Borough at which the
scheduled offensive trade of fat-melting is carried on. The firm
concerned has been established for many years and the trade is
conducted satisfactorily.
Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933
This Act is chiefly concerned with the distribution by sale or
otherwise of poisonous substances. The list of poisons is contained
in an Order made under the Act and is divided into two parts.
The Council are not concerned with the poisons contained in
Part I since an "authorised seller" is a pharmacist registered
with the Pharmaceutical Society, and enforcement is entrusted to
Inspectors appointed by that Society.
Substances specified in Part II may be sold by "listed sellers
and these are persons who, on written application in a prescribed
form, and on payment of stated fees, are recorded by the Council
as "persons entitled to sell poisons in Part II of the Poisons List"
at the premises recorded in the Register. The Council are required
to enforce the Act and Orders so far as they relate to "listed
sellers" and have appointed the Public Health Inspectors as
Inspectors under the Act. At the end of the year there were 201
persons registered under the Act.
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This Act repealed the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act,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. 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.
Noise Abatement Act, 1960
This Act gives local authorities power to deal with "noise which
is a nuisance". Industrial noise clearly has a health angle in that
it is often continuous and of considerable intensity and the Health
Department takes appropriate action on complaints of noise
arising in connection with a trade or business. Noise other than
industrial noise however is sometimes difficult to deal with as it