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RATS AND MICE DESTRUCTION.
The responsibility for disinfestation of
premises rests by law upon the occupiers, and up to
the 31st March, 1948, when occupiers requested the
Corporation to carry out work on their behalf they
had to meet the cost thereof.
The scale of charges approved by the Council
was 2/6d . per servicing visit which included labour,
transport, traps, poisons and baits. Special terms
were quoted for cases requiring long-term treatment.
No charge was made for inspections and advisory
visits.
As from 1st April, 1948, the Council accepted
the revised grant offered by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries. Subject to compliance
with certain conditions the grant is 50 per cent of
approved net expenditure incurred by the Town Council
on:-
(1) Administration and maintenance of an
organisation adequate for effective
rodent control.
(2) Treatment of sewers, refuse destructors,
refuse dumps, and other "Local Authority"
properties.
(3) Treatment at private dwellings after
deduction of receipts, if any, from
occupiers. (It is left to the local
authority to determine its position
in relation to charging occupiers for
treatment of infestations at private
dwellings).
Grant aid is not available in respect of expenditure
incurred on treatment at commercial and industrial
premises, and the full cost of the work must therefore
be recovered from the occupiers. Ten contracts were
in operation in respect of such premises during the
year.
The Council decided that after 1st April, 1948,
no charge be made for treatment of infestations at
private dwellings provided the occupiers take such
steps as may from time to time be necessary and
reasonably practicable for preventing their premises
from becoming infested with rats and mice.
This decision has considerably facilitated work
on private property. Under the charging scheme there
were constant disputes as to liability and one 'difficult'
occupier frequently held up treatment on a block of
property for long periods.
35.
Now, immediately an
infestation is found, treatment can proceed, and the
figures which follow indicate the extent of the work
carried out during the year.