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Prosecutions
During the year four successful prosecutions were taken under the Act and one
case was dismissed. Two cases concerned heating of shops where a fine of £10 with
£2. 2s. costs was imposed in one case and £3 with £2. 2s. costs in the other. In a
third case a firm which had been convicted and fined previously for contravening the
Act, was again summoned under Section 4 for failure to keep a wash room and store
room in a clean state, and under Sections 9 and 10 for a defective sanitary convenience
and failure to supply hot and cold or warm running water for staff washing
purposes. Total fines of £30 were imposed in this case with £10. 10s. costs to the
Council.
The proprietor of a retail clothing shop was summoned under Section 4 for dirty
walls and ceilings, Section 6 for failure to provide a thermometer, Section 9 for dirty
sanitary convenience, Section 10 for insufficient washing facilities, Section 11 for
absence of drinking water, Section 24 for absence of first aid box, and Section 50 for
failure to provide an abstract of the Act. The work had been carried out immediately
prior to the hearing of the case and a plea of guilty was entered. Fines of £11 were
imposed with £2. 2s. costs to the Council.
In the fifth case the proprietor of a baker's shop was summoned under Section
4 for failure to keep the store clean, and under Section 6 for not maintaining an
adequate temperature. A plea of not guilty was entered and the owner in evidence
said that as he sold fresh cream cakes, he considered that the maintenance of a
temperature of 60.8°F. was detrimental to his products. After the evidence and
representations by the solicitors concerned had been heard, the bench dismissed the
charges, but declined to award costs to the defendants.
During the year, the Council received one application for exemption from the
requirements of Section 24 of the Act relating to the provision of first aid boxes on
the grounds that first aid rooms were to be provided.
One application for the renewal of exemption from the requirements of Sections
9 and 10, relating to the provision of additional sanitary conveniences and washing
facilities, was received and granted for a further period of twelve months to 31st
December, 1967.
The following tables summarize the work done under the Act during the year:-
84