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Meetings of the No. 10 London Workable Area Committee
of which this authority is a member, are held from time to time
to discuss problems and new developments in connection with
rodent control.
As a consequence of the reorganisation mentioned, the Ministry
notified local authorities that the Rat Destruction Service
hitherto undertaken by the Ministry Staff at agricultural premises,
was to be rundown as from 1st April, 1958. A list of contracts
held within the area of this Council was supplied in order that
the Council might offer an alternative service and this has been
done.
It is the legal responsibility of the occupier of premises to
keep the premises free from infestation by rats and mice, and in
view of this the Council has maintained the principle that a small
charge should be made in respect of destruction work carried out
by the Council at private dwellings.
A nominal charge of 5/- is made therefore for this service
which is generally appreciated and in respect of which no serious
difficulty has been experienced since it was first put into practice
in 1951.
Work carried out at business premises including agricultural
holdings is charged at the full cost which, during 1958, continued
at the rate of 10/8d. per hour plus cost of materials.
In view of the comparative freedom from rat infestation of
the Council's sewerage system it was agreed with the Infestation
Division of the Ministry that only a modified testing and treatment
of part of the system was necessary during the year.
A total of 43 manholes was test baited and in only one
manhole was there any evidence of infestation.
For a number of years the department has relied principally
on the use of Warfarin as a convenient and very effective poison
for surface treatment, but on the advice of the Ministry its use
has now been extended to sewer treatment by the addition of a
preservative which inhibits mould growth in the poison.
The Council has continued to undertake rodent control at
local schools for The Surrey County Council on a contract basis.
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