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business premises but no charge is made in the case of private dwellings.
This work was carried out by a staff of one Rodent Officer and six rodent
operatives. Complaints of infestation at 1,251 premises were received and
investigations revealed the presence of rodents at 1,058 dwelling houses and
158 business premises. The district inspector was consulted in all cases
where the source of infestation was considered to be a defective drain.
Notices requiring the carrying out of structural work were served under Sec4
of the Act in respect of two dwellings during the year.
The total baits laid were:-
Pre-baits 14,882
Poison baits 39,906
Post-baits 3,844
Following treatment some 1,258 premises were cleared of infestation. "Block"
treatment of properties was carried out in nine instances.
In connection with rodent control 653 drains were examined, of which 435
were submitted to test and 209 found to be defective. In regard to the treat
ment of business premises chareres to the amount, of £153 6s. 6d, were made

Treatment of the Council's sewers was undertaken by the staff of the
Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department,
SHOPS ACT, 1950
The duties of the Council under this Act are restricted to enforcing
those provisions of Section 38 which relate to the maintenance of suitable and
efficient ventilation and a reasonable temperature in shops, and the provision
of sanitary conveniences for persons employed in or about the shop. During
the course of inspections of the various shops in the Borough, contraventions
of the Act were discovered at six premises. Notices drawing attention to
these contraventions were served and the matters were remedied. There were
no applications under Section 38(6) of the Act for exemption from the provisions
relating to sanitary accommodation.
PET ANIMALS ACT, 1951
•
This Act, which came into operation on the 1st April, 1952, requires all
premises at which pets are sold or kept for the purpose of sale to be licensed
by the local authority, and appears to be a measure more to prevent cruelty to
animals than a general public health measure. In granting a licence a local
authority is empowered to make conditions to secure that:-
(a) the accommodation at which the animals is kept is suitable as
pects size, temperature, lighting and ventilation:
(b) animals will be adequately supplied with suitable food and drink and
are not sold at too early an age;