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business as a hairdresser or barber at any premises unless he is
registered in respect of those premises by the Borough Council.
A total of 478 visits were made by technical assistants during
the year in connection with the work of registration and the
enforcement of existing bye-laws which lay down standards of
cleanliness in hairdressers' establishments.
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949
This Act gives the Council power to require steps to be taken
to eradicate and, where possible, to prevent infestation by rats
and mice. These duties are carried out by the rodent officer,
assisted by five rodent operatives.
All infestations coming to light, whether by complaint or otherwise,
are systematically investigated and appropriate action taken.
Where the cause of the trouble is obviously a defective drain or
other structural defects in the building, the owner is called
upon to effect the necessary repairs. This aspect of the work
involves close co-operation between the rodent control staff and
the public 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 2,603 complaints of infestation were received in
respect of which a total of 8,466 visits were made by the staff.
It is interesting to note that more than two-thirds of these complaints
related to the presence of mice, whereas complaints about
rats have decreased. The increase in the number of complaints
about mice over the last few years appears to be associated
with the growth in the number of houses which are in multiple
occupation in certain parts of the Borough. Experience shows that
when a house is let to an excessive number of families, there is
an initial hesitance to call in the local authority to deal with the
presence of mice. Eventually, the premises become over-run and,
at that stage, complete eradication becomes extremely difficult.
In addition to the work of rodent control, the rodent officer
continued to carry out evening " forays" on pigeons roosting
under railway bridges in the Borough. These bridges are a
favourite breeding ground and one of the causes of the high
pigeon population of the Borough and, by attacking them at their
roosting sites, profitable results were obtained.
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.