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Local Land Charges Enquiries
During the year enquiries were made by the Town Clerk in respect of 3385 properties
as to whether there were any notices outstanding, whether in a Smoke Control
Area, or whether any Certificate of Disrepair was in force under the Rent Act, 1957.
The necessary searches were made and the information supplied.
Choked Drains
During the year the Department's drainage operative cleared no less than 1111
drains on request at private premises. Owing to the increase in the number of these
requests for this service, the Council decided to make fixed charges for the work.
These are as follows: -
During normal working hours 12.6d
Evenings - Monday to Friday £1. 5.0.
Saturdays and Sundays £2.10. 0.
These have been found to be economic charges and allow for the payment of overtime
rates to operative and van driver.
The monies are paid to the workman and a receipt (previously prepared in the
office) given by him, so avoiding the necessity of submitting accounts and recovering
the costs.
The service continues to grow, the local builders apparently being only too
pleased to leave this unpleasant task to the Council.
In the event of the operative being unable to clear the drain by rodding the
owner is then advised to call in his own builder or alternatively the Public Health
Inspector will serve a notice under a Local Act requiring the clearing of the drain
within 24 hours failing which the Borough Engineer & Surveyor's Department carry out
the work in default and the expense is later recovered from the owner.
Cesspools
A number of the properties in the more rural parts of the Borough have cesspool
drainage.
The cesspools were emptied by the Council on 183 occasions during the year.
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