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their state and especially that of the sanitary accommodation are forwarded
each year to the Clerk of the County Council.
Licensed Premises
There are 58 licensed premises in the district. Although at most of
them the state and adequacy of the sanitary conveniences are quite
satisfactory, at a few there is room for improvement. A report about the
state of these premises is sent to the Clerk of the Justices each year just
before the Brewster session.
Keeping of Pet Animals
The Pet Animals Act, 1951, requires any person keeping a shop for
the sale of pet animals to be licensed with the local authority. Before
granting the licence, the local authority must be satisfied that the animals
will be kept in accommodation that is suitable as to size, temperature,
lighting, ventilation and cleanliness; that the animals will be adequately
supplied with food and drink; that they will not be sold at too early an
age; that all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent the spread
among the animals of infectious disease, and that appropriate steps will
be taken in the case of fire or other emergency.
The number of licensed pet shops in the district is 13. All of them
were inspected during the year; the conditions were found to be satisfactory
in all but two which were dirty at the time.
The Committee considered a suggestion from the Royal Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that, to avoid unnecessary distress
to animals sold in pet shops as the result of ignorance of the purchasers,
the proprietors should be compelled by a suitable regulation endorsed on
their licences to issue suitable leaflets about the feeding, general care and
management of the animals. The Committee resolved that when licences
are granted or renewed, the licensees be informed that it is the wish of
the Committee that an appropriate leaflet be supplied by licensees each
time a pet animal is sold.
Rag Flock
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951, makes it
necessary for any premises using filling materials to which the Act applies
to be registered with the local authority. There are four premises in the
district registered under this Act. The persons concerned use materials
carrying the Certificate of the British Standards Institution. In no case
was any dirty filling material found at the premises which were all inspected
during the year.
Marine Stores
In 1953 the Public Health Committee became responsible for the
registration of marine store dealers. This term includes the dealer in old
metal which under the Old Metal Dealers Act of 1861 includes any person
dealing in, buying, and selling old metal, scrap metal, broken metal or
Partly manufactured metal goods or defaced or old metal goods. At the
end of the year two persons were registered with the Authority.