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CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956.
(i) Smoke Control Areas.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government requested the
Council to re-consider their previous decision not to create any
smoke control areas in the Borough at present hut to call for a
further report from the officers in January, 1962.
The Council resolved to adhere to their previous decision
to review the question of an overall programme of smoke control in
January 1962, and to inform the Minister that they are dissatisfied
with the present procedure and urge him to alter the grant
arrangements in accordance with their previous recommendations.
(ii) Air Pollution - measurement and research.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government drew attention to
a co-operative scheme whereby local authorities undertook, or
contributed towards, the cost of investigation and research into
problems of air pollution particularly with regard to the measurement
of air pollution.
The essence of the scheme was the collation of measurements
of air pollution of different kinds made by local authorities
in various parts of the country. The work of collation and
publication was undertaken by the Department of Scientific and
Industrial Research. Local authorities could participate in the
scheme by taking and making available air pollution measurements
or, whether or not they took measurements, by making a token
contribution towards the cost of the services provided by the
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in connection with
the scheme. Local authorities could obtain the advice of the
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on what type of
instruments to purchase, how to operate them and interpret the
results and where to install them.
The Council agreed to participate in the scheme by setting up
a station for the measurement of smoke and sulphur dioxide, the
necessary financial provision to be made in the estimates for 1962/63.
RATS AND MICE DESTRUCTION.
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, places upon the
occupiers or, in certain circumstances the owners, of land (including
buildings) the responsibility for the destruction of rats and mice
thereon and for keeping the land free from such pests.
It is the duty of the Council to carry out inspections to see
that this is done, and to secure so far as practicable that their
district is kept free from rats and mice. Where necessary they may
serve upon owners or occupiers notices requiring them to take steps
for this purpose and penalties are laid down for failure to comply
with such notices.
The policy of the Council is,however, to give such assistance
as is possible to the occupiers of private dwelling houses. For
that purpose they permit their own small rodent control staff, who
are primarily engaged to deal with Corporation property(including
sewers) to give advice and practical help where appropriate,without
charge subject to the signing of the "Request for Treatment" form.
The Council is under no legal obligation to do this and does
not undertake to provide a service for the destruction of vermin,
but allows its staff to help so far as time permits. Every effort
is made to give householders the best possible service with the
staff available.
Seventy-three schools, business and industrial premises were
treated by the Council's staff on payment of the cost involved
by the occupiers or owners concerned.
The figures which follow indicate the extent of the work
carried out during the year.