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19 GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MEASURES
Nuisances and Complaints
During the year 7,596 complaints were received,the main
categories being as follows:-
Housing defects 1,127
Drainage 825
Refuse and dustbins 676
Animals 71
Insects 307
Food 291
Smoke emissions and bonfires 131
Overcrowding and
multiple occupation 81
Noise 223
Rats and mice 3,591
Miscellaneous 273
As a result of these complaints 9,406 inspections and
11,207 reinspections were made of premises of all types
and 1,318 informal notices were served under the Public
Health Acts and allied legislation. It was found that in
general this informal action brought a satisfactory response
and that the necessary works were completed within a
reasonable time. However, it was necessary to serve 663
statutory notices in cases where action to remedy defects
was not readily forthcoming and these resulted in the
taking of legal proceedings in 25 cases. Two cases were
withdrawn before the hearings on completion of the works
and on payment of agreed costs to the Council. Twenty
Nuisance Orders were made and the defendants ordered to
pay the costs. In two cases fines were imposed and costs
granted for non-compliance with Nuisance Orders. A fine
was imposed in the remaining case for failure to comply
with a notice served under Section 56 of the Public
Health Act 1936. The total amount of fines imposed was
£170 and costs £1,743.
The informal and formal action taken under the Public
Health and Housing Acts resulted in 5,080 repairs and
improvements being carried out, including the cleansing
and repair of 881 drains and water closets, the abatement
of dampness in 411 cases, the removal of 519 accumulations
of refuse, the repair of 560 walls and ceilings and
340 roofs.
Radioactive Substances Act 1960
The Department of the Environment maintains a register
of persons authorised to use radioactive materials and
notifications of new registrations are passed to the
Council. A Public Health Inspector then visits the
premises to obtain information regarding safety precautions
so that such details are available locally in the event of
an accident. Three new premises were registered during
the year bringing the total in the borough to 24.
Factories Act 1961
This Act and the various regulations made under it places
on the Council certain responsibilities regarding the
inspection of factories and outworkers premises. The
Council is responsible for enforcing the provisions
relating to sanitary conveniences in all factories and
those concerning cleanliness, overcrowding, temperature,
ventilation, and drainage of floors in any factory where
mechanical power is not used. During the year 53
premises were inspected and at the end of the year there
were 1,102 on the register. Where defects were found
they were remedied after informal action.
A register of persons employed by factories in their own
homes, ie. outworkers is maintained by the Council and
120 visits were made to their houses to ensure that
the work was being carried on under hygienic conditions.
Tables 2-4 give the statistical information for the year.
Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960
The difficulties in dealing with gipsies and other
travellers who park on service roads and other land in
the northern parts of the borough continued to present a
problem. However, the vigilance of the Council's Warden
and co-operation of the police resulted in the satisfactory
removal of the vehicles in most cases. Without this
degree of control no doubt the caravans would remain for
long periods on these unsuitable sites which are without
sanitary conveniences and with the consequent dumping
of rubbish which creates a nuisance.
Common Lodging Houses
There are no common lodging houses in the Borough.
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951
This Act and its accompanying regulations are designed
to secure the use of clean filling and lining materials in
upholstered and other articles which are stuffed or lined.
At the end of the year 6 premises in the Borough were
registered under the Act. Inspections were made of these
premises on 9 occasions and conditions were found to be
satisfactory in all cases.
Noise Abatement Act 1960
Complaints of alleged noise nuisance made during the
year totalled 233. Not only was this the highest number
received - 54% above last year's figure - but the percentage
of valid complaints, 86%, was greater than in any previous
year.