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PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949
RODENT CONTROL
The Council employ the services of a rodent operator assisted
as necessary by another officer in the department for work under
this heading.
Compared with 1958 there was an appreciable increase in
the number of complaints received and premises found to be
infested by rats and mice and during the year the Department
agreed to carry out on a contract basis certain disinfestation work
at agricultural premises formerly carried out by the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries & Food.
The Department does not, of course, rely solely on the receipt
of complaints as an indication of infestation and routine inspections
of dwelling houses, business premises including agricultural holdings,
council owned properties and land are carried out from time
to time and in conjunction with treatment on adjoining premises.
On the 31st March, 1959 the grant payable under the Prevention
of Damage by Pests Act 1949 on expenditure incurred by the
Council on rodent control ceased as a result of the Local Government
Act, 1958.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food will, however
through its regional and divisional pests staff, give an improved
technical advisory and instructional service on rodent control to
local authorities.
Meetings of the No. 10 London Workable Area Committee
of which this Authority is a member, are held from time to time to
discuss with the Minister's officers, problems and new developments
in connection with rodent control.
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 1959, was
increased to 11/3d. 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 85 manholes were test baited and in only one manhole
was there any evidence of infestation.
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