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An agreement with the Stoke Newington Borough Council provides for part
use of the mortuary for an annual payment of £300; the bodies of 90 residents
from the area of that Authority were received.
Vacant Sites A number of complaints of rat infestation of vacant sites and
nuisance arising from putrescible and other material deposited thereon were
received, and because of the difficulties and delay which might have arisen
from action to compel owners of the sites to fulfil their obligations, 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 six
van loads and 103 bins of rubbish and 70 miscellaneous items.
Static Water Tanks. Six of the eleven static water tanks remaining in the
Borough gave rise to nuisances from accumulation of stagnant water, and it was
again necessary to seek the assistance of the Fire Brigade in pumping before
removing obnoxious matter and carrying out appropriate treatment.
Dangerous Structures, (London Building Acts (Amendment) Act, 1939).
Particulars of 124 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 Following requests for reports on the general sanitary
condition of licensed premises from the Licensing Justices to whom applications
for transfer of licences had been made 74 premises were inspected and
reports thereon forwarded to the Justices, In respect of twelve premises, at
which defects were found notices were served under the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936,
LAND CHARGES ACT, 19 25
Enquiries as to sanitary and other notices, and orders or charges outstanding
were dealt with in respect of 1,417 premises,
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT 1949
Rodent control work was again 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 business
premises but no charge is made in the case of private dwellings. A staff
of one rodent officer (part time) and five rodent operatives carry out this
work. The presence of rodents at 962 dwelling houses and 113 business premises
was revealed following investigations made into the 1,141 complaints of
infestation received. In all cases where it appeared that rodents were obtaining
access to premises through defective drains, the matter was referred
to the district sanitary inspector. Block treatment of premises was carried
out in five areas 68,358 baits were laid in all premises treated, and
1,100 premises were cleared of infestation. Of a total of 269 drains examined