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Powers were also delegated under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, the
Food Hygiene Regulations and the Food Hygiene (Markets Stalls and Delivery Vehicles)
Regulations. These delegated powers were in respect of legal proceedings for sale of unsound
food and for non-compliance with the above Regulations.
Delegation was also given in respect of the issue of licences or registration for
premises used for the sale of ice cream, milk, pet animals. Also delegated was the power to
issue licences or registration for premises used as animal boarding establishments, hairdressers
and in respect of food hawkers.
Full use has been made of these delegated powers, and this has resulted in a speeding
up of the work as it is no longer necessary to wait for a meeting of a Committee before
the appropriate action can be taken. Statutory notices can be served at any time and the
various licences can be issued at very short notice.
Under the provisions of the Clean Air Act power has also been delegated in respect
of approval of proposed fireplace conversions and the payment of grant on completion of the
conversion, in smoke control areas.
Clean Air Act, 1956. The department continues to co-operate with the Ministry of
Technology in a national survey of atmospheric pollution. There are three sites where
measurements are taken in the Borough.
Action in respect of smoke control was partly reduced during the year due to
economics in cost and to a shortage of solid smokeless fuel. The Ministry of Housing and
Local Government confirmed the Councils No. 16 Smoke Control Order but the Council decided
to alter the date of operation from 1st November, 1970 to 1st November, 1971. There are at
present 23 smoke control areas in full operation in the Borough.
Due to the shortage of solid smokeless fuel the Ministry of Housing and Local
Government suggested to local authorities that they may consider the suspension of 40% of
their smoke control areas. The Council considered this matter and decided not to suspend
any smoke control areas at present, but to delegate powers to the Chairman of the Health
and Welfare Committee to suspend any areas as considered necessary. By the end of the
year it had not been found necessary to suspend any of these areas, sufficient supplies of
solid smokeless fuels being available.
A small number of smoke nuisances have arisen in respect of discharge from factory
chimneys, these have been investigated and appropriate action taken.
Noise Abatement Act, I960. Several complaints of noise nuisances have been
received, these vary from barking dogs to noise from factories and from amplifiers. Various
methods of noise abatement have been carried out and these include, the removal of the noise
source, the reduction of the noise level, screening the noise source, absorbing or modifying
the noise.
Every noise problem has its own peculiarities, and each one must be dealt with under
its own special circumstances.
Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963. There were a small number of new
premises registered during the year. Inspection of a large number of premises were carried
out, a number of defects were found and these were remedied by either formal or informal
action.
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