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Pet Shops.
Twelve applications for the renewal of licences to keep pet shops within the
Borough were approved. These premises are visited periodically by the Sanitary
Inspectors to ensure that the requirements of the Pet Animals Act and the conditions
subject to which licences are issued are being complied with. 76 such inspections
were carried out during the year.
Rag and Bone Dealers.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1936, as amended by the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1952, places restrictions, in the interests of public
health, on sales by dealers in rags, old clothing and similar articles.
During the year the Council instituted legal proceedings in respect of an offence
against the Bye-laws made by the London County Council relating to the business
of a rag and bone dealer. A police constable saw a man in a road in the Woolwich
area offering toys, pocket knives, toy cameras, books, etc., to a number of children,
all under the age of 15 years, in exchange for rags. A fine of forty shillings was
imposed in this case.
Rag Flock.
Supervision of the hygiene and cleanliness of rag flock premises is one of the
duties of the Sanitary Inspectors. There are three registered premises in the
Borough where filling materials which are specified in the Rag Flock Regulations
are used.
During the year twelve samples of rag flock and other filling materials were
obtained for analysis. Each sample was subjected to a number of prescribed tests,
and satisfactory reports were received in respect of all the samples analysed.
Six of the samples were of rag flock, three of woollen mixture, and one each of
hair, millpuff and black curled fibre.
During the year the Council renewed one licence for the manufacture of rag
flock.
Shops Act, 1950.
The provisions of the Shops Act, 1950, relating to suitability of ventilation,
lighting, washing facilities and sanitary accommodation and maintenance of suitable
temperature in shops is the responsibility of the local sanitary authority. Altogether
1,103 visits of inspection were made by the Sanitary Inspectors for this purpose
during the year.
Hairdressers' and Barbers' Shops.
Section 18 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1954, provides
for the control by Metropolitan Borough Councils of Hairdressers and Barbers by
their registration and the registration of their premises.
Metropolitan Borough Councils have the option whether or not to operate
these provisions. Having decided to operate these requirements, the Council are
given power to make Bye-laws for securing the cleanliness of premises, towels,
materials and equipment, and the cleanliness of persons employed at the premises.
The Council decided to operate these provisions as from March, 1956, so that
all persons carrying on the business of Hairdresser or Barber, and their premises,
must now be registered by the Council. The provisions do not apply to a person
carrying on a business solely at premises at which he resides where there is no shop
or saloon, so long as he is not carrying on a business substantially as a full-time
occupation or employing an assistant.
Regular inspections of these premises are being made by the Council's Sanitary
Inspectors.
Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933.
The registration and supervision of sellers of Part II poisons (i.e., other than
registered pharmacists) is carried out by the Council under the above Act. The
number of persons entered on the Council's list at the end of the year was 158.
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