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III. SANITARf ClflCUMST/iNCES
The District Public Health Inspectors served 2,923 notices during the
year, and in 20 cases legal proceedings were employed to enforce compliance.
The department still has only seven district inspectors, which is four below
the establishment.
Legislation passed during the year included the Rent Act, 1957, which
receives further mention below. Another duty to fall upon the Public
Health Inspectors during the year was the exercise of the functions of
the Motor Cycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations, 1957, made by the
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and which came into force on the
1st April.
Certificates of Disrepair (Rent Act. 1957).
The Rent Act, 1957, received the Royal Assent on 6th June, 1957, and
came into operation on 6th July. The main effects of the Act are to free
from rent control dwellings which are above certain rateable values and to
allow limited increases in the rents of dxvellings remaining under control,
such increases being subject to abatement in the event of dwellings being
in disrepair. Procedure to be followed by landlords and tenants with
respect to applications for, and cancellation of, certificates of disrepair
is detailed in the Act, replacing similar provisions which were contained
in the Housing Repairs and Rent Act, 1954, and the Rent and Mortgage
Interest (Restrictions) Acts, 1920-193Q.
By the end of the year 490 applications for Certificates of Disrepair
had been received from tenants. Detailed information will be found in the
table on Page 55.
Clean Air.
Certain provisions of the Clean Air Act, 1956, came into operation on
31st December, 1956, namely those relating to the installation of new
furnaces, smoke control areas, height of chimneys, and research and
publicity. The remaining provisions of the Act will come into force next
year. The Minister of Housing and Local Government made regulations
during the year relating to the constitution and procedure of the Clean
Air Council, which he was required to appoint under Section 23 of the Act,
and to the exemption of certain fireplaces which are specially designed or
adapted for combustion of liquid fuel from some of the requirements
relating to Smoke Control Areas.
Occupiers of all the larger industrial and commercial premises in the
area were circularised as to the provisions, generally, of the Act.
Prior approval was given during the year to plans and specifications
submitted under Section 3 of the Act of furnaces proposed to be installed
in a County Council housing scheme.
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