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No. 14 Warwick Cottages, and 54 and 56, Edward Road, were
owned by one person, and this owner appeared before the Committee
after notice of her right to be heard had been served. She
was not willing to carry out the works of reconditioning in respect
of No. 14, Warwick Cottages, and a Demolition Order was thereupon
made. As regards No. 54, Edward Road, the owner stated
she was prepared to carry out all the works specified and to give an
undertaking to that effect. She stated, however, that it was not
practicable to do all the works whilst the house was occupied,
and consideration of this matter was deferred pending a decision
regarding an offer of temporary alternative accommodation for the
tenant.
No. 56, Edward Road, became vacant, the tenant being rehoused
by the Housing Manager under the "Points" scheme, and
it was decided that an undertaking to carry out the necessary
works would be accepted.
Rat Destruction
Two hundred and fifteen complaints of rat infestation were
received (102 in 1948).
The Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, was administered
by the County Council until 31st March, 1949, when their powers
under the Act were delegated to us from 1st April. An agreement
was made with the Barnet Urban District Council for the appointment
of a rodent operative to carry out the necessary duties jointly
for the two districts, and an operative was appointed and commenced
his duties on 2nd May.
The annual 10 per cent. test of the sewer manholes to ascertain
the extent of rat infestation of the sewers was again carried out at
the request of the Rodent Control Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Test baits of sausage rusk were laid in 165 manholes,
and when inspected two days afterwards only four of the baits had
completely disappeared, and in 10 manholes, part only of the baits
had been consumed, and these "takes" were all in one area.
A treatment of the area concerned was then undertaken,
with the result that there were 10 manholes where the poison baits
had been only partly consumed.
These results were somewhat similar to those of last year and
are a proof that rat infestation of the sewers is very slight. Full
particulars were supplied to the Infestation Division of the Ministry
of Agriculture.
The rodent operative later tendered his resignation which
took effect from 1st October. It was then decided to approach the
Barnet Urban District Council with a view to a separate operator
being appointed for each district as experience had proved that there
was sufficient work in this district to justify the appointment of
a wholetime operative, and the delegated duties could better be
performed by the two authorities working separately.
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