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Food hygiene—The problem of hygienic standards of
premises and equipment is being steadily pursued.
Arrangements have been made for the plans of
premises which will be associated with preparation
and sale of food to be examined in this department
and recommendations made where it appears that the
Food Hygiene Regulations will not be complied with.
Standards of premises and equipment have greatly
improved in recent years but the need for constant
supervision of the human element continues. The
principles of hygienic handling of food can best be
appreciated by food handlers following personal
visits by the public health inspectors to them in their
own surroundings, and this type of publicity is
continuous. Only in this way can adequate contact be
maintained with all food handlers, and particularly
with new entrants to the food trades whose knowledge
of food hygiene can leave much to be desired.
Legal proceedings were taken in one case for
smoking in a food room, resulting in a fine of £10
and £3 3 0 costs.
There are in the borough the following food
premises subject to the Food Hygiene (General)

No certificates of exemption from the requirements
of Regulations 16 and 19 have been issued, and the
provision of sinks, wash basins and water supply has
been rigidly enforced except in a very small number
of cases where structural redevelopment is imminent.
In such cases alternative temporary arrangements
have been made.
Housing—During the year 356 new dwellings were
erected by the Borough Council, 332 by private
enterprise and 43 by housing associations.
The action taken in insanitary and unfit dwelling
houses during the year is summarised as follows—
1. Inspection of Dwelling-houses during the
Year
(1) Total number of dwelling-houses inspected
for housing defects (under Public Health
and Housing Acts) 1,008
(2) Number of dwelling-houses (included under
sub-head (1) above) which were inspected
and recorded under Housing Regulations
1925 and 1932 386
(3) Number of dwelling-houses found to be in
a state so dangerous or injurious to health
as to be unfit for human habitation 33
(4) Number of dwelling-houses (exclusive of
those referred to under the preceding subhead)
found not to be in all respects reasonably
fit for human habitation 267
2. Remedy of Defects during the Year without
Service of Formal Notices
Number of defective dwelling-houses rendered
fit in consequence of informal action
by the Local Authority or their officers 156
3. Action under Statutory Powers during the
Year
(a) Proceedings under Sections 9, 10 and
12 of the Housing Act 1957
(1) Number of dwelling-houses in
respect of which formal notices
were served requiring repairs 1
(2) Number of dwelling-houses which
were rendered fit after service of
formal notices
(a) by owner —
(b) by Local Authority in default
of owners —
(b) Proceedings under Public Health Acts
(1) Number of dwelling-houses in
respect of which formal notices
were served requiring defects to
be remedied 38
(2) Number of dwelling-houses in
which defects were remedied after
service of formal notices
(a) by owner 32
(b) by owner after court had
made a nuisance order
(c) by local authority in default
of owners
91