View report page

PUBLIC CLEANSING. The cleansing of streets and collection and disposal of refuse
are carried out under the control of the Borough Engineer. Refuse is disposed of by
controlled tipping and the collection of house refuse is carried out weekly. Through the
action of the Health Department, 15 new dustbins were provided during the year.
Salvage continues to be collected at the same time as refuse and is segregated before sale.
The collection of kitchen waste was discontinued in January, 1954.

SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE BOROUGH. In addition to the work recorded in other
paragraphs of this Report, the Public Health Inspectors continued their general duties
of investigating complaints, abating nuisances and dealing with contraventions of the
Public Health Acts.
Not all complaints brought to the Health Department deal with matters on which
the Department is empowered to take action, and in such cases complainants are advised
as far as is known, how and where the matter may receive attention. Some particulars of
the work done are shown below:-
Number of complaints received 921
Number of premises at which nuisance etc, were located 768
Number of premises where nuisances abated or defects remedied:-
(a) by owners or occupiers 281
(b) by Council in default 1
(c) public sewers repaired by Council 49
(d) public sewers cleared and cleansed by Council 343
Informal notices issued 291
Written reminders issued 220
Statutory notices served 67
Total number of inspections and re-inspections 19,490
Inspections of stables 4
Inspections of urinals 13
Premises licensed for public entertainment 40
Visits re infectious diseases, etc. 502
Sinks provided or repaired 7
Roofs repaired 28
Gutters repaired or renewed 39
Brickwork, sills etc. repaired or renewed 36
Premises provided with damp-proof courses 3
Yards and forecourts paved or drained 4
External painting 4
Rooms stripped, cleansed and redecorated 24
Floors, walls and ceilings repaired or renewed 88
Windows repaired or renewed 50
Doors and other woodwork repaired or renewed 14
Staircases replaced or repaired 2
Grates provided or repaired 3
Instances where ventilation under floor provided or improved 6
Food stores provided or repaired 1
Verminous condition abated 5
Offensive accumulations removed 73
Other repairs carried out or nuisances abated 34
Dung pit renewed 1
Complaints continue to be received of nuisance caused by pigeons. The Public
Health Act, 1961, now gives a local authority power to take steps for the purpose of
abating or mitigating any nuisance, annoyance or damage caused by the congregation in
any built-up area of house doves or pigeons or of starlings or sparrows.' The seizure
and destruction of any birds must be carried out humanly and any action taken must not
contravene the Protection of Birds Act, 1954. Action taken at 24 sites in the Borough
resulted in the destruction of 588 pigeons, but while food is liberally provided by the
public there is little prospect of keeping the numbers down.
EXCHANGE OF ARTICLES FOR RAGS. Under the Public Health Act, 1961, it is an
offence for any person who collects or deals in rags, etc. to sell or deliver whether
gratuitously or not, any article whatsoever to a child under the age of 14 years in
exchange for rags, etc. The Police notify the Council of any such contraventions coming
to their notice.
CLEAN AIR. During the year the Public Health Inspectors made 93 smoke observations
and paid many visits to premises in regard to which complaints of smoke nuisance
21