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tors. In 57 instances it was found necessary to follow up Intimation
Notices by the service of Statutory Notices under the Public
Health Act 1936 or the Housing Acts 1936/49 in order to secure
execution of the necessary repairs. In the case of one house, legal
proceedings had to be instituted against the owner to enforce
compliance with a Statutory Notice. The repairs, however, were
carried out prior to the Court hearing. Accordingly, after an
adjournment to ascertain that the repairs carried out had abated
the nuisance, the Council's application for a Court Order was not
proceeded with. Costs were granted to the Council.
The repairs carried out at 127 of the 451 houses referred to
above were of a major character, including such works as extensive
roof repairs, damp-proofing of walls, provision of site concrete,
underpinning of walls, renewal or extensive repair of flooring,
renewal of windows, extensive renewal of wall and ceiling plaster,
and renewal of external paintwork.
At the remaining 324 houses, the repairs were not of such an
extensive nature, but were necessary to abate specific nuisances.
No Demolition Orders under Section 11, Housing Acts
1936/49 were made by the Council during 1952.
Housing Applications
Visits by the Sanitary Inspectors to applicants for housing
accommodation and the preparation of reports as to living conditions
has continued in 1952. The number of visits for this purpose
remains understandably low, being 128 as against 130 in 1951,
260 in 1950, 560 in 1949 and 969 in 1948.
The close liaison existing between the Public Health Department
and the Housing Department has been maintained during
1952. As in previous years, on several occasions I have been asked
by the Town Clerk to advise as to the degree of urgency on
medical grounds applicable to particular applications.
Food Hygiene
During the year, 1,504 visits were made to food premises in
the Borough as against 1,453 in 1951. As a result of these visits, it
was found possible to bring about improvements and generally to
encourage a higher standard of food hygiene.
It was not found possible to arrange a Clean Food Week
during 1952. Arrangements were made during the year, however,
to hold a Clean Food Month during the spring of 1953. The
programme has already been carried out, although its implementation
does not fall within the scope of this Report. A full report
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