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30
LAND CHARGES ACT, 19 25
Enquiries as to outstanding sanitary and other notices, and orders or
charges were dealt with in respect of 1,884 premises.
PREVENTION OP 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.
Following investigation of 1,150 complaints of infestation received, 923
dwelling-houses and 137 business premises were found to be infested by rats and
mice. Some 54,000 baits were laid and as a result 1,202 premises were cleared
of infestation. Block treatment of premises was carried out in one instance.
In cases where defective drains appeared to be a factor in the infestation,
examination of the drains was carried out by the district sanitary
inspectors. A total of 134 drains were examined, tests were applied to 138,
and 86 were found to be defective.

Charges amounting to £181 15s. 5d. were made in respect of the treatment
of business premises
As in previous years, the staff of the Borough Engineer and Surveyor's
Department dealt with infestation in the Council's sewers.
SHOPS ACT, 1950
The duties of the Council under this Act are restricted to enforcing the
following provisions:-
SECTION 38 (Sanitary and other arrangements in shops).
(1) In every part of a shop in which persons are employed about the business
of the shop-
(a) suitable and sufficient means of ventilation shall be provided and
suitable and sufficient ventilation shall be maintained;
(b) suitable and sufficient means shall be provided to maintain a
reasonable temperature and a reasonable temperature shall be maintained.
(2) In every shop, not being a shop exempted from the provisions of this subsection,
there shall be provided and maintained suitable and sufficient sanitary
conveniences available for the use of persons employed in or about the
shop.
(6) A shop shall be exempted from the provisions of subsection (2) of
this section if there is in force a certificate exempting that shop therefrom
granted by the authority whose duty it is to enforce those provisions
Any such certificate shall remain in force until it is withdrawn by the
authority, but no such certificate shall be granted with respect to any shop
unless the authority are satisfied that by reason of restricted accommodation