Refuse Receptacles

  A meeting of this Council was held at the Council Buildings, Rushden, on Wednesday night, when there were present: Messrs. G. H. Skinner (chairman), F. Knight (vice-chairman), J. Claridge, G. Miller, T. Swindall, J. Paragreen, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, J. S. Clipson, and A. J. Dobbs, with the Acting Clerk (Mr. Beetenson), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. W. G. F. Kingston).

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 28^th July, 1909, when there were present:- Messrs. G. H. Skinner (chairman), F. Knight, W. Bazeley, C. Bates, J. Claridge, G. Miller, and T. Swindall.

Plans

were presented by:-

  Mr. A. Turlington for three houses in Midland-road, and passed, subject to six inches of cement being placed under the drains and the foundation arches being to the satisfaction of the Surveyor.

  Mr. W. Packwood for house and shop in Portland-road and passed, subject to the walls between the living room and kitchen and the bedrooms over, being nine inch brickwork and a fresh air inlet being provided to the drain.

  Mr. A. Clark for summer house in his garden in Brookfield-road and no exception taken.

Duck-Street and Fitzwilliam-Street

  The Surveyor reported that Miss Colson, the owner of the property at the northern corner of Fitzwilliam-street and Duck-street, had now agreed to give up sufficient land to round off the corner.  He estimated the cost of the works at £9.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to carry out the improvement forthwith.

Tar Spraying

  The Surveyor informed the Committee that the cost of tar painting the High-street from Manning’s-lane to the Queen Victoria Hotel amounted to £40/8/11, towards which the County Council would contribute one half.

Towing Path Gates

  A letter was received from the Clerk to the Nene Valley Commissioners stating that the Commissioners could not see their way to comply with the council’s request to keep the towing path gates unlocked, owing to the damage and annoyance sustained in consequence of the gates being constantly left open.

Public Lighting

  The Surveyor was instructed to complete the repainting of the lamps in the town as commenced in the High-street, viz: white and light green.

  It was resolved to commence full lighting on Saturday, the 21^st August next.

Main Roads

  The annual report of the County surveyor was received.  The following is an extract from the report so far as the roads in the Urban District of Rushden are concerned:

  “The roads in the district continue to be maintained in a high state of efficiency and the general surface work is well attended to.  The paved footpaths have also been improved during the year.”

  Kettering and Higham Ferrers Roads – 3m. 5f. In very good order throughout.

  Wellingborough and Kimbolton Road – 3m. 4f. In excellent condition.  One of the best roads in the County.

  The Committee congratulated the Surveyor on the very satisfactory nature of the report.

Main Outfall Sewer

  The Surveyor submitted a letter received from the Midland Railway Company, stating that there would be no objection to the construction of the proposed manhole through their culvert on the Midland-road, provided the work was carried out by the Council at their own expense and to the satisfaction of the Company’s Engineers.  The letter went on to point out that although an arrangement was made in March, 1897, by which the council were to enter into the Company’s usual agreement in respect of the sewer padding under their land and pay an acknowledgement rent of this per annum, no trace of such an agreement having been entered into could be found.

  The Clerk informed the Committee that there was no doubt that the terms as mentioned in the letter had been arranged, but that the agreement had never been completed and no acknowledgement rent paid.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to now enter into the agreement provided no liability was incurred for the past rent, on the terms arranged in 1897, and the Clerk was instructed to write to the Midland Railway Company accordingly.

  The report was adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings, on Tuesday, the 19^th August, 1909, when there were present: Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), W. Bazeley, and J. Claridge.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

  The Committee examined the Surveyor’s cash account with the wages books, the expenditure shown therein being as follows:-

Collector’s District Rate Account

  The Collector’s District Rate Account was examined from which it appeared that he had collected the following sum since the last meeting:-

Collector’s Fittings Account

  The Collector’s Fittings Account was examined from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums since the last meeting:-

Cemetery Registrar’s Account

  The Cemetery Registrar’s account was also examined, from which it appeared that the following sum had been paid to him during the last two months:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

  The Committee also examined the Treasurer’s accounts from which it appeared that the following sums had been paid to him on the following accounts since the last meeting:-

  And that the following balances were in hand on the undermentioned accounts:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £667/13/6 were examined and passed for payment.

  The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 11^th August, 1909, at 7 p.m., when there were present:- Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), G. H. Skinner, J. S. Clipson, A. J. Dobbs, and J. Paragreen.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The Medical Officer reported that he had visited houses Nos. 10, 12, 14 and 16 Duck-street, and found them in an unsatisfactory state; several repairs were required, and they also required whitewashing throughout.

  The Inspector was instructed to communicate with the owner and inform her that the matter must be attended to at once, otherwise the Council would have to take steps to close the houses.

  Eighteen cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz; 12 of scarlet fever and six of diphtheria, all the cases being of a mild type.

  The Sanitary Inspector informed the Committee that during the month of July, 21 informal notices were issued, calling attention to nuisances, and for the most part had received prompt attention.

  Sussex-place.- The Inspector reported on the condition of the 17 houses in Sussex-place, of which only six are inhabited; the walls and ceilings were reported dirty and the plaster broken, the roofs in every case being defective, admitting rain water into the bedrooms.  With regard to the empty houses, they were in an unsatisfactory condition generally and unfit for habitation.

  The Inspector was instructed to call the attention of the owners to the state of the houses and to inform them that unless steps are at once taken to put them in repair the Council will apply for a closing order.

  Offensive Trade.- The Inspector informed the Committee that Mr. J. Bailey had commenced to carry on the trade of a tallow melter at his premises in Washbrook-road, without having first obtained the consent of the Council, and submitted a letter from Mr. Bailey asking for such consent.

  The Committee did not consider the premises suitable for the purpose and resolved that they could not recommend the Council to give their consent.

  The Inspector was instructed to inform Mr. Bailey that he must discontinue to melt fat on the premises.

  Dairies, Milkshops, etc., Order. - An application had been received from Mr. Alfred Curtis for registration as a cowkeeper, and his name had been entered on the register.

  Various. - The Inspector was instructed to inform Mr. T. Neville, of 18, Washbrook-road, that the premises at the rear of his house occupied as a stable by Mr. F. Collins must cease to be so occupied at once, it being undrained and altogether unsatisfactory.  The Inspector was also instructed to require Mr. Joseph Green to raise the level of the manure pit adjoining his slaughterhouse at the rear of his business premises in High-street, and to drain same in accordance with Bye-law 15, and also to draw Mr. E. Claridge’s attention to the defective flushing apparatus to the water closet at No. 10, Orchard-place.

  Library Books. - The Committee authorised the Inspector to replace two books belonging to the Free Library which had been destroyed in consequence of the same being found in an infected house.

  The Inspector gave a detailed statement of work done during the past month.

Refuse Receptacles

  The Clerk submitted a letter which had been received from the Local Government Board enclosing copy of a letter addressed by that Board to Mr. George Bayes on the 27^th May with reference to notice served upon him by the Council requiring him to provide proper receptacles for refuse at his houses on the Wellingborough-road and stating that the Local Government Board were not prepared to intervene further in the matter at the present stage.

  The Inspector informed the Committee that Mr. Bayes had taken no steps to meet the requirements of the Council other than those reported to this Committee at their meeting on the 5^th May last, viz;, the provision of wooden tubs tarred on the outside for Nos. 80, 84, 86, and 88, Wellingborough-road, a wooden box for No. 82, and an untarred wooden barrel for Nos. 90 and 92, and one wooden tub tarred on the outside for the two unnumbered houses at the rear of Nos. 76 and 78, and no provision for Nos. 76 and 78.

  With regard to the houses Nos. 37 to 47, Harborough-road, similar wooden tubs had been provided and with regard to Nos. 2 to 28, Victoria-road, nothing had been done.

  It appeared to the Committee that the several houses referred to were still without sufficient receptacles and it was resolved to report to the Council accordingly with a recommendation that further notice be served upon the respective owners requiring them within 28 days to provide for each house a sufficient receptacle, with an instruction to the Inspector, in case the owner make default, to provide for each house a portable galvanized ash bin with a tight fitting lid and to take the necessary steps to recover, in a summary manner, the expenses incurred in so doing.

Sale Of Grass

  The Surveyor reported that the sale of grass at the sewage farm, cemetery, and hospital took place on the 21^st June and realised as follows:-

an increase of £1 11s. on last year’s prices.

Sanitary Inspector’s Association

  The Sanitary Inspector’s report on the Conference held at Glasgow on the 28^th June to the 3^rd July last was received and ordered to be printed and circulated amongst the members of the Council.

Public Health Congress

  The Surveyor’s report on this Congress held at Leeds last month was also received and ordered to be printed and circulated amongst the members of the Council.

  Mr. Claridge: Are we to take it that the Local Government Board leave it to the Council to do what they think necessary regarding the refuse receptacles?

  Mr. Knight: Yes, that is so.  There has been some delay in the matter but we have been waiting for a letter from the Local Government Board.

  Mr. Claridge: I don’t doubt that these are the most suitable receptacles, but I don’t like the hard and fast rule.  Some of the receptacles are, of course, most unsuitable.

  Mr. Dobbs: I don’t consider a wooden box can be suitable.

  Mr. Knight: It cannot be suitable for long, and there is such a variety.

  Mr. Paragreen: Galvanised dustbins have been provided by many and the rule should apply to all alike, I suppose.

  Mr. Claridge: We don’t want to show any partiality.

  The report was adopted.

Pawnbroker’s Licence

  An application was received from Mr. Beaverstock for a renewal of his licence.

  The application was acceded to.

Cycle Parade

  In reply to Mr. Bazeley, Mr. Knight said the Fire Brigade Committee had granted permission for the steamer, manual, and hose-cart to take part in the procession on Saturday.