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Were commenced. The weather conditions were so severe
in the last three months of the year that little progress was
made, but it is anticipated that during 1930, the works
will be completed.
ASH RECEPTACLES AND COLLECTION.
In order to keep in touch with ashbin accommodation
in the Borough, an arrangement has been made whereby
the collectors record particulars of houses where the ashbins
are in bad condition or where insufficient receptacles are
provided.
These particulars are handed in to the Borough
Surveyor, who passes them on to your Sanitary Inspector
from time to time. The arrangement works quite well and
during the past year no less than 211 new ash receptacles
were provided as the result of notices served.
OVERCROWDING.
There were eight cases of overcrowding known to exist
in the Borough at the end of 1929. There is no statutory
definition of overcrowding in the Public Health Acts, but
for the purpose of calculating the air space required per
person, the standard adopted for common lodging houses
is adopted, viz., 300 cubic feet for each adult person and
150 cubic feet for each child under 12 years of age. This
is admittedly a low standard to adopt and it does not
necessarily take into consideration that a house may be so
sub-let, room by room, that it would be very difficult to keep
the house wholesome and clean, and yet it might not be
overcrowded according to the cubic capacity standard. In
order to deal more adequately with such cases, your Council
has under consideration the adoption of revised bye-laws
for Houses Let in Lodgings or occupied by more than one
family.
There can be little doubt that the housing situation is
somewhat easier. This is probably due to the relief afforded
by the Corporation Housing Scheme, and the Census which
is due to take place next year should provide definite
evidence of this improvement.