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The Mortuary Attendant is responsible, under supervision, for
the maintenance and cleanliness of the building, the reception and
collection of bodies, assistance at Post-Mortems, and the preparation
and arrangement of a Town Hall room for the purposes of Inquest.
Charge is taken of any clothing or valuables found on deceased persons
and next-of-kin are immediately informed.
National Assistance Act, 1948
Burial and Cremation of Dead
Section 50 of this Act places responsibility on a local authority
for the burial of persons who have died, or been found dead, in their
area where it appears that no suitable arrangements for disposal have
been made.
During 1957 it was unnecessary to take any action under this
Section.
Infestation by Rats and Mice
Seven hundred and fifty-six complaints were received in 1957 of
which 82 related to business premises. A charge is made for the service
provided in respect of the latter, whereas private residential property
is serviced free of charge.
During the year, accounts for £123 7s. 3d. were rendered in respect
of business premises.
Certain sections of the main sewers of the town known to be heavily
rat infested were poison baited on three occasions during the year.
New methods of control, including the use of a new poison
(Warfarin) were introduced with the approval of the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food towards the end of the year. The
indications are that permanent disinfestation is now being achieved even
in the sections of sewers which had remained constantly heavily infested
despite our earlier efforts.
Shops Act, 1950
The duties of the Public Health Inspectors under this Act differ
very widely in character. The health and welfare provisions embrace
sanitatin, heating, ventilation, rest facilities, etc., but the Inspectors
are also the Council's authorised Officers for enforcing the statute so
far as it relates to hours of opening and closing, the weekly half-holiday
and early closing day, Sunday trading, the type of goods which are
prohibited from sale at certain times, the employment of young persons,
and the keeping of records. During 1957, 1,003 visits were made to
shops in the Borough.
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