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(b) Number of underground rooms found to be unfit for
human habitation 5
(c) Closing orders made in respect of underground
rooms 5
(d) Number of underground rooms made fit by the
owners and the closing orders subsequently
determined 1
Qualification certificates
As can be seen from the information given below, the
number of applications for Certificates of Provisional
Approval and Qualification Certificates (which enables
owners of rented properties to convert controlled tenancies
to regulated tenancies) have not decreased significantly and
the number of inspections have been maintained. One of
the qualifying conditions in both types of applications is
that the premises should be in good repair and great care is
taken to ensure that this condition is met. On occasions
our standards have been challenged as being too high but,
to date, none of our requirements has been the subject of a
formal appeal. There is the satisfaction of knowing that
where a Qualification Certificate is granted by this borough,
the property not only has all the standard amenities but is
also in a good state of repair.
Certificates of provisional approval
Applications received 137
Applications granted 134
Applications refused 3
Applications withdrawn 6
Qualification certificates
Number of applications received 426
Number of applications granted 247
Number of applications refused 220
Number of applications withdrawn 41
The work on qualification certificates involved a total of
1,852 visits by the public health inspectors.
Improvement of dwellings
There has been a 28% increase over the last year in the
number of applications for improvement grants, which is
partly due to the increased publicity on a national scale.
Another reason for this increase is that owners of multioccupied
houses are advised that grants are available for the
provision of amenities and, to convert houses into self
contained flats. Each property is inspected by the public
health inspectors in order to assess its condition and its
estimated useful life following the works of improvement.
A total number of 498 applications were received involving
644 visits.
General improvement areas
During the year, a team of public health inspectors carried
out the fabric survey of some 155 houses in the proposed
Strafford Road General Improvement Area. The purpose
of the survey was to ascertain the number of properties
deficient in any of the standard amenities and the state of
repair of each house. Estimates and costings were prepared
to enable a decision to be reached by the council, as to
whether the declaration of a general improvement area
should proceed. Public health inspectors have been in
attendance at all public meetings, so that advice could be
given to members of the public on subjects relating to
environmental health. The department is represented at all
meetings of the General Improvement Area Working Party
to ensure co-operation with other departments in the
promotion of the South Street General Improvement Area
and the investigation and selection of other suitable areas.
Moveable dwellings
There are seven site licences under the Caravan Sites and
Control of Development Act 1960, which relate to 10
caravans stationed within the borough.
Once again the presence of members of travelling
caravan dwellers within the borough has presented
considerable problems. Legal action was taken in 18 cases
against caravans unlawfully stationed on land within the
borough, although this action did not always have the
desired effect of removing them from the borough. Where
possible, caravans unlawfully stationed were removed by
informal action.
Further progress has been made towards the establishment
of a permanent site for 15 caravans in the borough
and the council has decided that the temporary site in
Church Road, Cranford, shall be occupied by 15 caravans
pending the establishment of the permanent site. During
the year the minimal facilities of a water supply and sewage
disposal were provided on the temporary site.
The work of dealing with caravans necessitated 1,092
visits by the public health inspectors often under very
uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous conditions. This
figure is twice that of 1970 and indicates an increase in the
work of this nature due to our inability to finalise the
permanent site. It is hoped that provision of the council's
site will be made as soon as possible so that effective action
can be taken against caravans unlawfully stationed within
the borough.
Rodent control
The proposal that agreement with various firms for the
control of rodent infestations should cease was implemented
during the year although the service was provided on
request. The manpower thus saved was used in the
implementation of a sytem of routine sewer treatment for
rodents. Ten per cent of the sewer system of the borough,
comprising some 900 manholes was inspected and test
baited. Of these 100 were found to be infested and
treatment with a fluoroacetamide based poison carried out.
Results indicate that the continued implementation of this
scheme should lessen the occurrence of surface infestations
in the Borough.
The treatment of mice infestations has continued to
present problems largely owing to the resistance of mice to
the anti-coagulant poisons and the presence of alternative
food in infestations in food premises. By variations of the use
of poisons according to the particular circumstances of the
infestation and the carrying out of "proofing work" however,
considerable success is being achieved in the treatment of
mice infestations. There has been no indication of the
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