View report page

of the notices were complied with. As distinct from the now repealed
section of the Housing Act, 1957, no provision was made in the
present Act for penalties for non-compliance with such notice and
the only remedy available was for the Corporation to carry out the
work and recover the cost. The Corporation decided to ask the
Association of Municipal Corporations to approach the Minister of
Housing with a view to the re-instatement of the penalty
provisions.
Rent Act, 1957
During the year 9 applications were received for certificates of
disrepair. 4 certificates were issued and in 3 cases an undertaking
was given by the landlord under paragraph 5 of the First Schedule.
There were no applications for cancellation of certificates.
CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956
Smoke Control Areas
Owing to shortage of staff it was not possible to adhere to
the proposed Smoke Control programme.
In October 1963, Smoke Control Order No. 2 came into force.
This Order covers an area of 460 acres and contains 3272 private
dwellings, 413 Corporation dwellings and 130 industrial commercial
and other buildings. The total estimated cost of carrying out
conversions in the area was £33,054, (£30,822 private and £2,232
Corporation). Claims for grant are still coming in but following
the pattern set by Smoke Control order No.1, it is unlikely that
the total cost of conversions will come to more than a third of
the estimated cost.
In December 1962 the Minister confirmed Smoke Control Order
No.3 and in January, 1963, letters and pamphlets were distributed
to all householders affected by the Order. In October 1963 the
Coal Utilisation Council's mobile exhibition spent a week in the
area.
Smoke from Furnaces
Section 3 of the Act deals with the installation of new
furnaces and the requirement that new furnaces shall be so far as
possible smokeless. During the year 1963, 3 applications to instal
furnaces were received and approved.
PEST DESTRUCTION
Rats and Mice
The service provided by the department is free in respect of
residential premises but work carried out at business premises is
paid for by the firm concerned and is not a charge on the rates.
Insect Pests
Residents of the Borough are able to have insect pests
identified and advice is given as to the best methods for their
11