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105
Overcrowding
During the course of the year details of sixteen cases of statutory
overcrowding were added to the register while, over the same period,
entries relating to ten cases were deleted.
The overcrowding in one of the cases removed from the register was
abated by the Housing Committee rehousing the family concerned, and in
the nine other cases it was abated through other channels.
The number of cases on the register at the end of the year was eleven,
the highest figure recorded being 628 on the 1st January, 1949.
RENT ACT, 1957
CERTIFICATE OF DISREPAIR
Seven applications were received during 1968 from tenants of property
for a Certificate of Disrepair and three Certificates were issued. No
Certificates were cancelled but, in four cases, undertakings were accepted
from the owners agreeing to carry out the repairs required.
As in previous years, few tenants took advantage of the provisions of
the Rent Act, 1957 and it is felt that this is due to the fact that many
tenants have difficulty in understanding the rather complex conditions of
the Act and the forms that are involved.
SUPERVISION OF OTHER PREMISES
During the course of the year routine and other visits were made to
work places, cinemas, licensed premises and many other centres and
reference to the statistical summary will indicate the wide field over which
the work of the public health inspector extends.
Though mainly concerned with ensuring that the requirements of the
various Acts and regulations relative to the environment are being
complied with, the health inspector plays a big part in securing improved
conditions generally and in the raising of standards both in respect of
particular premises and the district as a whole.
Unfortunately, the apathy of so many individuals to the presence of
litter and waste prevents it being recorded that the problems of rubbish
dumping (a subject referred to in Annual Reports over many years) have
been overcome. Alas, in spite of the efforts that have been made and the
publicity drives exhorting individuals to "Keep Britain Tidy", the quantity
of litter and waste material in hedgerows, on common land, and on
undeveloped sites is a great as ever.
Rubbish and litter, plus the problems they bring in their wake, namely
rats and flies, are among the unsolved health hazards of the age.