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When the work is completed, it is proposed to choose from the records of the
survey in each district the streets found to be most in need of house-to-house inspection,
and to have it carried out by the inspector of the district.
Houses Let in Lodgings.
During the year the re-registration of houses let in lodgings, rendered necessary
by the passing of the new by-laws in 1907, was steadily proceeded with. The number
orginally registered was 758. At the end of 1911 all of these had been re-examined
and re-registered, and certificates regarding them were issued to the owners.
In addition 294 not previously registered were brought in, bringing up the total
number on the register to 1,052.
The number of inspections made in connection with this work was 7,539. In
1,465 instances intimation notices relating to nuisances were served, all of which
were promptly complied with.
During the year all premises on the register were systematically inspected. In
March, notices calling attention to the necessity for cleansing and lime washing of
staircases, &c., were served upon all owners. Follow-up visits were paid by the
inspectors in each case to see that the notice had been complied with. It was not
found necessary to institute proceedings in any instance for breach of the by-laws.
In July a letter was received from the Clerk to the County Council directing
attention to the terms of section 16 of The Housing Town Planning, Etc., Act,
1909 (which extends the power of making by-laws as to lodging houses for the
working classes so as to impose duties upon the owner of the premises in addition
to or in substitution for any other person), and suggesting that if the Council had not
already done so, steps should be taken to amend the existing by-laws.
Accordingly, a draft of amendments was made and considered by the Public
Health Committee and submitted to the Local Government Board for preliminary
approval before laying them before the Council.
In addition to showing the amendments required by the section referred to above,
certain other alterations were made with the object of simplifying the working of the
by-laws. At the end of the year the Board's approval had not been received.
Common Lodging Houses.
All the necessary particulars with regard to these are contained in the following
table. A number of visits have been paid to the premises from time to time by the
district inspectors.