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Legal Proceedings under Public Health Act, 1936, Section 94.
During the year it was necessary to institute legal proceedings in only six
cases in connection with the abatement of nuisances.
In three of these cases the work required to abate the nuisances had not been
carried out at the time of the Hearings and the Magistrates made Nuisance Orders,
awarded the Council costs in each case and in one case imposed a fine of £5. In one
case the Nuisance Order was not complied with and at a further Hearing the Magis
trates imposed a fine of £5 and awarded the Council £6.6.0. costs. The work had not
been completed at the close of the year and further proceedings were under consideration.
In two other cases the work necessary to abate the nuisances was carried out
shortly before the Hearings, but the cases were proceeded with and the Magistrates
awarded the Council costs in each case.
The last case related to statutory nuisances arising in connection with the
keeping of cats. Three complaints were made by the Council that although the
nuisances had been abated they were likely to recur. The defendant was represented
by Counsel and denied all three complaints. The Magistrates, however, granted Orders
prohibiting any recurrence of the nuisances and awarded the Council a total of
£9. 3. 6d. costs.
HOUSING ACT, 1957
During the year under review 13 houses were dealt with under the Housing Act,
1957, involving the making of 3 Demolition Orders and 10 Closing Orders.
Certificates of Unfitness were issued under the Housing (Financial Provisions)
Act, 1958, in respect of 35 houses in the Council's ownership.
Of the 48 houses, 29 were actually closed during the year and 7 were demolished.
In addition, 21 houses were closed and 55 demolished in respect of which
Closing or Demolition Orders had been made or Certificates of Unfitness issued prior
to 1959.
During 1959, 48 families involving 140 persons were displaced from unfit
properties, 42 families involving 130 persons being rehoused by the Council and 6
families involving 10 persons being rehoused by other authorities or finding their
own accommodation.
Steady progress was maintained during the year in dealing with unfit properties,
and towards the end of the year a further survey was carried out to ascertain the
number remaining to be dealt with. It was found that whereas in 1955, when proposals
were submitted to the Minister of Housing and Local Government under the Housing
Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, the number of unfit properties was estimated at 173,
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