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the total registered premises 552. 27 retail shops were also
added to the register, giving a total of 1,692, whilst the figure
of 53 wholesale shops and warehouses was increased by two
during the same period. The figure of premises in which food is
supplied to the public was increased from 162 to 165 but no
new fuel storage depots were opened within the Borough. The
figure of persons employed in registered premises was 19,445
comprising 8,635 males and 10,810 females and the Inspectors
paid 1,085 visits to various forms of registered premises. Four
applications were received for exemption from the provisions
of Section 9 (sanitary conveniences) and four for exemption
from the provision of washing facilities under Section 10, all
of which after inspection were granted by the Council.
Housing
The administration of the provisions of the various Housing
Acts was continued. Insofar as overcrowding is concerned, six
informal notices were served requiring abatement in 1965 and
two areas were declared by the Council to be clearance areas
in the same period. The main problem in the administration of
this important Statute lies in the difficulty in securing suitable
and sufficient land and the provision of new houses for occupation
by those not only displaced by slum clearance
programmes but also those who are in urgent need of housing
accommodation. Various figures in relation in the inspections,
service of notices, compliance with the notices and the manner
of dealing with the various problems relating thereto are
contained in the attached Appendix. 28.
The ever increasing difficulties arising from the occupation
of houses by more than one family has in large measure been
curtailed in that regular inspections have been carried out of
premises subject to the requirements of the Housing Acts
1961 — 1964. Direction Orders regarding the occupation of
such premises in accordance with the standards laid down by
the Council have been issued and these have had a salutary
effect in reducing the number of occupants of the controlled
premises. This of itself does not necessarily solve the problem
of satisfactorily housing these people in that they are forced
to go to other premises where like conditions are invariably
produced. Nevertheless; it does focus the attention of owners
of houses on their obligations under the Acts to provide
suitable sanitary circumstances in premises having particular
regard for the number of occupants thereof. It is pleasing to
record that many of the owners have carried out essential
works to comply with the Directions given by the Council; in
some cases, preliminary inspection and notification of the