View report page

Drain Stoppages
Where complaints are received of obstructed drains the Public Health Department first investigates
to see if the obstruction can be cleared by some simple action such as plunging. If so, this is
carried out by the general assistants free of charge. In the event of the stoppage being more serious,
the owner is notified that immediate action is necessary to clear the drain and is invited to sign a
form requesting the Borough Engineer's staff which has the use of heavier equipment to deal with
the matter. The person responsible must undertake to meet the Council's charge.
If agreement cannot be reached statutory action is taken under section 17 of the Public Health
Act 1961.
During the year 848 drains were cleared by the Public Health Department and 381 jobs were passed
to the Borough Engineer's Department. It was also necessary to serve 49 notices under Section 17,
Public Health Act. 1961 and in 18 of these cases to carry out the clearance in the owners' default.
House Drying
Assistance is given when premises have been saturated, caused possibly by burst water pipes or
tanks or major roof defects. Powerful hot air blowers and dehumidifiers are taken to the premises
and greatly speed up the drying out process.
Accumulations of Refuse
An unfortunate trend towards indiscriminate dumping of rubbish on any available site has continued
throughout the year. The practice is conducive to the harbourage of vermin and causes a great
deal of work for the department.
Diseases of Animals Act 1950
The Council is the responsible local authority under this Act, but no local emergency arose during
the year which required special action in this respect.
Pet Shops and Animal Boarding Establishments
19 premises are licensed as pet shops and there is one licensed animal boarding establishment in
the Borough. Regular inspections are made by the public health inspectors to ensure compliance
with the Council's licensing conditions. In addition arrangements have been made for veterinary
supervision of the premises and animals to be carried by Mr. F.G. Buxton, F.R.C.V.S.
Performing Animals
The owner of the performing dog registered until 1968 died in 1968 and no performing animals are
now registered by this Council.
HOUSING
Unfit Houses
The investigation of houses in areas where there was reason to believe that the houses were generally
unfit for habitation and might best be dealt with by clearance of the sites was continued during the
year, and areas were inspected in accordance with the Council's Inspection Area Programme.
Procedure in preparation for representation of areas recommended for clearance followed similar lines
to those of previous years. A programme and target dates for the year were agreed after consultation
with other Departments concerned, but progress fell short of that anticipated and the programme for
the year and target dates were not fully achieved.
The work involved, which forms the greatest part of the work of the Section, includes the detailed
examination of each house in the provisional area, the preparation of reports, principal grounds of
unfitness and maps and the compiling of lists of owners, occupiers and other interested parties in
regard to all the houses which require to be dealt with.
28