13^th April, 1945

Serious Damage at Park
Avenue Residents Blamed by Councillor
No Holiday Fete

  Demands for severe action against people who have torn down fencing and made a track into the Hall Grounds were raised at Wednesday’s meeting of Rushden Urban Council.

  Councillor Weale said he had previously called attention to damage and destruction.  This time he had a very serious charge to make against inhabitants who lived in Hall-avenue.  A very strong fence was constructed at the top of the Hall Grounds a few weeks ago, but within two days it was torn down and much of it removed.  The footpath had become a track.  He asked the Parks Committee to take severe action, and he did not doubt that if they made the right enquiries they would find who the culprits were.

  These people deliberately used wire-cutters to cut the fence, and nothing short of prosecution would meet the case.

  “If we are going to have footpaths and tracks cut through in all directions, then goodbye to the Hall Grounds!” added Mr. Weale.

  Asking whether any report had been received from the park-keeper, Coun. Dilks said it was up to the Council to take serious measures.

  The Surveyor (Mr. J. W. Lloyd) said the park staff had reported the incident, but they did not know who the culprits were.  The police had been informed.

School Control

  A resolution based on recommendations of the Irthlingborough conference on education, and calling for a Divisional Executive in the East Northants area, was carried unanimously.

  Mrs. Muxlow, who attended the conference, said she felt that if they missed this opportunity they would be guilty of not doing the best they could for the education of the children of the town.

  Coun. Bailey asked whether the Finance Committee had any information about local war industries.  It was time, he said, that the Council had information as to the future of industries other than the staple industry.

  The question was ruled out of order, but Mr. Bailey gave notice to raise it again next month.

Housing Progress

  In connection with the temporary houses which are to be put up in the Park-road district, consent was received to the borrowing of £325 for the purchase of land.  Lighting and bedroom heating of houses will be by electricity, and the Council expressed a wish for gas cookers, boilers, etc., to be installed.

  Permission to remove the static-water basin from the site has been refused and the fate of the air raid shelter awaits official decision.  Preparation of the site may begin on or about May 2^nd.

  Rents of houses built for the alleviation of overcrowding and in substitution for unfit property were ordered to be revised.  In the case of 17 houses in Boundary-avenue and Coronation-avenue the rents have never been adjusted in sympathy with the increasing rates.  From the beginning of June there is to be a weekly rent plus rates in full.

  On 27 other houses there has been an undercharge or “rebate” of £136 in a year, and “economic” rents will be charged from June onwards.

  Coun. Cox said this would put the matter on a sound basis.  He added that at the end of the financial year there were no arrears of Council-house rents.

Holidays and Fetes

  Taking the view that many people would take their August Week holidays away from the town this year, the Council agreed not to initiate a Holidays-at-Home programme this year.

  Mr. John White, who has been asked by the Marchioness of Northampton to promote a Red Cross Victory Fete, was given permission to use the Hall Grounds on a date not yet decided.

  The Clerk (Mr. T. L. Watts) informed the members that their term of office will expire on April 15^th, 1946, and that an election will be necessary near that date.

  The following disease cases were reported by the Medical Officer (Dr. D. A. McCracken):  Tuberculosis 1, scarlet fever 5, pneumonia 3, bacillary dysentery 3, measles 16, whooping cough 1.  There were ten births and nine deaths during the last month.

  Coun. Bailey underlined the urgent need for a good supply of salvage, especially paper, and urged householders to do their best in response to the appeal they will soon be receiving.

  Building plans were:  Outbuildings at 17, Prospect-avenue (for Mr. G. Randall):  addition to outbuildings at 77, Park-avenue (Mr. W. E. Campion):  Garage at 74, Park-avenue (Mr. H. Ward).

  The electricity and gas companies were authorised to prepare for the resumption of full street lighting next season.  They have been asked to submit estimates for street lighting temporary housing site, based on an anticipated need for ten years.

  General street lighting will cease on May 13^th for the duration of double summer time.

Genial Chairman

  The Chairman received a hearty vote of thanks for his services to the Council and town during the last 12 months.

  Coun. Sawford, who proposed the vote, said that Dr. Davies had fulfilled the promise he gave that he would serve to the best of his ability.  He had not had the privilege of declaring peace, but there was satisfaction in knowing it was not far off.  The doctor had been lenient and had had the “privilege” of being Chairman when the rates made a record climb. (Laughter).

  Coun. Allen said they appreciated the doctor’s geniality and his willingness, as a busy professional man, to find time for public affairs.  He had had an incomparable year in regard to British and Allied victories.

  In reply Dr. Davies thanked the members and officers for their friendship and help.  They had much to be thankful for, he said, and they remembered with satisfaction the splendid part that Rushden and district played in Salute the Soldier Week and Rushden’s ready response to the Holiday Fete.  The best memory for all of them, however, was that throughout the year they had seen the Allies moving steadily but surely towards victory.

  The Chairman added thanks to the Press for “faithful and kindly” reporting.

Realisation

  In moving thanks to the Vice-Chairman (Coun. H. Waring) Coun. Allebone declared: “Our chairman has served in a time of anticipation.  I feel sure you will have the realisation of it.”

  Coun. Weale anticipated that Mr. Waring would have a most hectic time, not only with celebrations, but with serious work which would have to be undertaken by the Council.

  The Council went into committee for an informal discussion of peace celebrations.

  Members present:  Couns. Dr. R. W. Davies, J.P., (Chairman), H. Waring (Vice-Chairman), A. H. Bailey, J. Roe, C.C., T. W. Cox, A. Allebone, J.P., C.A., F. Green, J.P., Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, J. Allen, W. E. Capon, A. F. Weale, J. George, T. J. Swindall, J. E. Dilks, J. H. J. Paragreen, W. J. Sawford, E. A. Sugars and J. T. Richardson, J.P.

20^th April, 1945

Housing is Most Urgent Task
Declaration by Council’s New Chairman

  Faithful to the custom of promoting the vice-chairman, Rushden Urban Council by a unanimous vote placed Mr. Horace Waring in the civic chair at its annual meeting on Wednesday.

  Dr. R. W. Davies, who was vacating the chair, proposed the appointment and remarked that with his great qualifications as a journalist Mr. Waring would be more than usually fitted to occupy the post.  He hoped Mr. Waring would have good health and very shortly the great satisfaction of serving the Council and public when the worst part of the war was over.

  Coun. W. E. Capon, who seconded, said he was sure that Mr. Waring’s late father and mother would have been delighted to see him made Chairman of the Council.  All appreciated his work on the Council, his judgment on all points, and the helpful part he had played in the discussions.  They foresaw that all his public utterances, as becoming a man who was gifted with the pen, would be to the point.

  Thanking Mr. Capon for his reference to the parents he honoured, Mr. Waring said he liked to feel they were aware of what was taking place and that they shared in the honour.

“Model Council”

  Referring to a recent discussion on Council procedure, Mr. Waring said he agreed with Mr. Allebone that it would be a pity to amend the Standing Orders, though a little latitude in applying them might sometimes be advisable.  He had attended meetings of many local authorities, and he said without any reservation that in its conduct of business the Rushden Council was a model that others could copy with advantage.

  He would like to assure the towns-people that housing was regarded by the members as by far the most urgent of their duties, but he regarded it as the Government’s responsibility to open the channels through which there would be a flow of raw materials for housing.

“Never Made Speech”

  Another unanimous vote was given for the election of Coun. J. George as Vice-Chairman.  Coun. Green, as the proposer, spoke of Mr. George’s great interest in the Council’s work.  Coun. Sugars, in seconding, said he admired Mr. George as a man who was not afraid of “standing up to it,” and who was not going to sit on the fence.

  Mr. George, in returning thanks, said the Council had completed 50 years, and Mr. Waring was to be congratulated on scoring the first shot in the second 50.

  “I have never attempted to make a speech in my life,” added Mr. George, but I have had a great interest in this Council from its inception.”

  Before these ceremonies took place the Council, at Dr. Davies’s invitation, stood in silence as a tribute to the late President Roosevelt.

Parcels Fund Intervenes

  A letter from the Rushden Serving Men’s Parcels Fund called attention to the Council’s recent decision not to initiate a Holiday Fete this year.  The Parcels Fund Committee, wrote Mr. F. G. Deane, would be unable to continue their work without assistance from some major effort.  They trusted that the Council would call a meeting preliminary to a town fete of some kind, and at an early date, the matter being urgent.

  Coun. Allen said he certainly felt they should not let the year go by without making an effort of some description for the charities of the town, and especially for the Parcels Fund.

  “As we hope this will be the last year of the war,” said Mr. Allen, “it would be unfortunate if the serving men and women were to consider the Council remiss in its duty by not continuing to the end, the same as the men and women in the Forces have to continue.”

  On Mr. Allen’s proposition it was agreed to call a town’s meeting to consider an effort to benefit the charities usually included in the list.  Mr. Capon asked that the Council should not commit themselves to a fete, and Mr. Allen said his resolution did not specifically call for one.

Appointments

  Messrs. George, Green and Waring were reappointed to the Wellingborough Area Guardians Committee; Mrs. Muxlow to the East Northants Joint Hospital Board; Mrs. Weale, Mr. A. T. Chambers and Mr. E. A. Sugars to the School Managers; Miss W. M. Clipson and Mr. T. W. Cox to the Intermediate School Managers.

  Subject to checking and Government approval, the tender of Messrs. T. Wilson and Son, of Northampton, at £3,339, was accepted for street, sewer and incidental works on the temporary housing site.

  Members present:  Couns. H. Waring, J. George, Dr. R. W. Davies, A. H. Bailey, J. Roe, C.C., A. Allebone, J.P., C.A., T. W. Cox, F. Green, J.P., Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, J. Allen, W. E. Capon, T. J. Swindall, J. E. Dilks, J. H. J. Paragreen, W. J. Sawford, E. A. Sugars and J. T. Richardson, J.P.