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81
TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS
of the
Walthamstow Urban District Council.
Town Hall, Walthamstow,
January, igog.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you my report of the work done
through my department during the year, 1908.
The new building bye-laws which have been under consideration
so long, have at last received the informal approval of the Local
Government Board. It is satisfactory to know that after the representations
made to that Board, powers have been included giving to
the Inspector of Nuisances similar jurisdiction in the supervision of
works of drainage in existing buildings as is given to the Surveyor
in new buildings, and notice must be sent before any such work is
commenced or covered in. This is a most important provision, which
has hitherto been confined to London and a few provincial towns.
Although the final approval of the Local Government Board had
not been received, I have acted throughout the year as if the byelaws
were in force, and have had little difficulty in inducing owners
to do their work in accordance with them.
The Public Health Acts (Amendment Act) 1907, adopted during
the year, confers increased powers in connection with my work in
many directions, and will enable us to carry out some much needed
improvements. I have already been able to put some of its clauses
into operation.
In the general work of the department it has been necessary to
ask for authority and serve statutory notices, after other methods
had failed, as to 71 premises. These notices were sufficient to
secure compliance with our requests in every case but one. In this
latter case a summons was issued, and an order made, and the work
f