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The bodies of 103 residents of Stoke Newington were received. The revised
agreement with that Authority operates from 1st January, 1953 and provides
for an annual payment of £300.
VACANT SITES. There are a number of vacant sites, the majority a legacy
from the war, many of which give rise from time to time to complaints of rat
infestation and of nuisances arising from putrescible and other deposited
material. The responsibility for removing such deposits devolves on the
owners of the sites concerned but, since, action to compel owners to fulfil
their obligations would, in many instances, be difficult and cause delay, the
Public Health Department frequently undertook the removal of materials likely
to endanger the health of the public. Where the clearing of the sites was
undertaken by this Department the material was in some cases destroyed by
burning and burial on the site, and in other instances it was removed to the
Disinfecting Station for destruction. The material so removed amounted to 11
van loads and 29 bins of rubbish and 49 miscellaneous items.
STATIC WATER TANKS. There are 13 static water tanks remaining in the
Borough and nine of these gave rise to nuisances from accumulation of stagnant
water. The Fire Brigade rendered valuable service in pumping water from these
tanks. The usual method of dealing with tanks containing water was to remove
any obnoxious matter and then spray the water with a mixture of engine
oil, carbolic acid and a D.D.T. preparation which, after pumping had been completed,
settled as a film over the residual matter in the tank. Debris, etc.,
unlikely to give rise to nuisance was allowed to remain.
DANGEROUS STRUCTURES. (London Buildings Acts (Amendment) Act, 1939).
Particulars of 162 structures, or parts of structures, which appeared on inspection
to be unsafe were sent to the District Surveyors of the London County
Council.
LICENSED PREMISES. Prom time to time requests for reports on the general
sanitary condition of licensed premises are received from the Licensing Justices
to whom applications for transfer of licences have been made; 55 premises
were inspected and reports thereon forwarded to the Justices. In respect of
one premises at which defects were found a notice was served under the Public
Health (London) Act, 1936.
LAND CHARGES ACT, 1925
Enquiries as to sanitary and other notices, orders or charges outstanding
were dealt with in respect of 1,418 premises.
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949
Rodent control work was carried out in accordance with the methods of
treatment recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, by whom
fifty per cent. of the cost of this work, not otherwise recovered, is reimbursed
to the Council. Charges are made for treatments carried out at