Free Library Committee

A meeting of the Committee appointed to select and appoint a Caretaker for the Free Library was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday the 15th November, 1905, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), J. Claridge, F. Ballard, A. J. Dobbs and G. H. Skinner.

Free Library

Thirty-six applications for the post of Caretaker were received and four candidates selected for a personal interview with the Committee on Friday evening next.

It was agreed that the travelling expenses of the out-of-town candidates should be paid.

The committee met again on Friday the 17th November when the four candidates attended and were interviewed by the committee, whereupon it was unanimously resolved that Mr. J. Hazeldine, of Rushden, be appointed to the post of caretaker.

The report was adopted.

Plans, &c., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Water, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday, the 29th November, 1905, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, G. Denton, F. Knight, A. J. Dobbs, and W. Bazeley.

Plans

were presented by:-

Mr. J. C. Mayo for two houses in Pytchley Road and passed.

Mr. W. Packwood for coach-house at the rear of his house on the Newton-road and passed.

Mr. James Hyde for additions to engine-room at his factory in Glassbrook-road and passed.

Mr. C. W. Horrell for engine-room to his factory in Moor-road and passed.

Midland Railway

A letter was received from the Midland Railway Company acknowledging the receipt of the Surveyor’s letter with regard to the footpath between the station and Beaconsfield-place and stating that the matter should receive attention.

Public Lighting

The Lighting Sub-Committee reported that the Gas Co. did not see their way to lay a main into Dell-place at present. It would therefore be impossible to erect a public lamp there.

The Sub-Committee also reported that they had inspected the upper part of Co-operative-row, but, there being no thoroughfare, they did not recommend the erecting of a lamp there.

The Committee agreed.

Mr. Dobbs moved that the question of the lighting of Dell-place be referred back to the committee with a view to getting the Gas Company to re-consider the matter.

Mr. Bazeley seconded the motion, which was carried.

It was also decided to refer back the question of erecting a lamp in Co-operative Row.

The remainder of the report was adopted.

Finance &c., Committee

A meeting of the Finance, Estates, Cemetery, and Sanitary Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Tuesday, the 5th December, 1905, when there were present:- Messrs. T. Swindall (chairman), J. S. Clipson, J. Claridge, F. Ballard, and J. Hornsby.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

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

By the Collector’s accounts produced it appeared that he had during the month collected the following sums:-

The Committee examined the Collector’s fittings account, from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums during the month:-

Cemetery Registrar’s Account

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

Treasurer’s Accounts

From the Treasurer’s accounts produced it appeared that the following sums had been paid to him during the month:-

And that the following balances were in hand:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The Medical Officer reported that since the last meeting 42 cases of infectious disease had been notified, 41 of scarlet fever and one of erysipelas; one case of scarlet fever had proved fatal, as had also the case of erysipelas.

The Sanitary Inspector submitted particulars of all the cases notified, and stated that he had visited them all and supplied disinfectants. Fumigation had been carried out in 45 cases. The Inspector stated that from enquiries made he found that disinfectants were being freely used in the various factories in the town. All the schools had been supplied.

Royal Sanitary Institute

A circular letter from the Institute was received, stating that the Congress for 1906 would be held at Bristol in July and inviting this Council to send delegates.

It was unanimously resolved to recommend the Council to appoint their Surveyor, Mr. W. B. Madin, to attend.

Cemetery

The Sub-Committee reported that they had investigated the complaint made by Mr. W. Sears and through the Clerk had expressed regret at the oversight on the part of their officials and also offered him another space in any part of the Cemetery he might select free of charge. Up to the present no reply had been received from Mr. Sears.

Audit

A communication was received from the District auditor stating that he concluded the audit of the Council Accounts for the year ending 31st March last on the 28th October and making certain suggestions with regard to the future dealings with rates written off as irrecoverable.

A letter was also received from the Local Government Board on the same subject and the Clerk was instructed to reply that the Collector had been instructed in future to carry out the suggestions of the Auditor.

County Council Expenditure

A circular letter was received from the Brackley Union with a copy of a report presented to the Guardians of that Union by a Sub-Committee appointed to consider the question of the large and increasing expenditure of the County Council.

It was resolved that the letter and report be submitted to the Council at their next meeting and instructions taken thereon before this Committee proceed to deal with the matter.

Water Rate

The Collector submitted a water rate for the quarter ending 25th December next amounting to £516 10s. 9d.

It was resolved that the Council be recommended to seal the rate at their next meeting.

The report was adopted.

Council in Committee

A meeting of the whole Council in Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday the 6th December, 1905, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, F. Ballard, J. Claridge, W. Bazeley, C. Bates, G. Denton, G. H. Skinner, A. J. Dobbs, F. Knight, and J. Hornsby.

Electric Lighting Order

The Committee had under consideration a letter from the County of Northampton Electric Power and Traction Co., Limited, suggesting that their representative should attend a joint meeting of this Council and the Higham Ferrers Corporation, and give any information required with regard to the Provisional Order which the Company were applying for. After considerable discussion it was ultimately resolved that before arriving at any decision as to what course this Council should adopt with regard to the Order an opportunity be given the Company to meet the Council, and the Clerk was instructed to invite them to send a representative to the Council’s next meeting on December 13th.

Two representatives of the Electric Power Company now attended and explained the provisions of their scheme, as reported in another part of this issue.

Vestry Hall

A letter was received from the Local Government Board to the effect that as soon as the sale of the Vestry Hall had been completed they would be prepared to sanction the appropriation of the net proceeds to the purchase of the site for the new Council Offices.

It was decided to seal the agreement for the sale.

County Council Expenditure

The question of supporting Brackley’s protest against the increased expenditure of the County Council, referred to in the Finance Committee’s report, came on for discussion.

In reply to a question, Mr. Denton said he did not think there could be any harm in a pious expression of opinion. At the same time it was a very difficult thing to keep expenditure down. Fresh duties were continually devolving upon County Councils, and no resolutions they might pass would affect the expenditure caused.

Mr. Hornsby: It’s almost like censuring the County Council.

Mr. Skinner: It’s about time. (Laughter).

In reply to a question it was stated that recent increases were attributed to the administration of the Education Act and to the appointment of a County Medical Officer at a salary of £800 per annum.

Mr. Dobbs said he did not know what trade union the County Medical Officer belonged to but……..

Mr. Ballard: There’s no doubt he gets statement wages. (Laughter).

Mr. Skinner, alluding to the expenditure under the Education Act, said it was the farmers in the rural districts that had an increased burden, and it was they who ought to be passive resisters. The Act cost him £10 a year extra.

Mr. Knight said he was glad the Brackley Guardians had brought the matter forward. Rates were becoming a very heavy burden. He moved “that the time has arrived when the serious attention of the County Council should be given to the increasing burden of the rates.”

The motion was agreed to.

Appointment of Free Library Committee

The following were appointed members of the Free Library Committee:- Messrs. Claridge, Clipson, Swindall, Skinner, Ballard, and Bazeley. It was also decided to invite the following to join the committee: The Rector (Ven. Archdeacon Kitchin), the Rev. M. E. Parkin, Messrs. W. H. Brown, L. H. Perkins, J. T. Colson, W. Clarke, and J. H. Derbyshire.

Midnight Meetings

Mr. Bates asked if the Council could not do something to stop such midnight meetings as the one held on Saturday.

The Clerk: The only thing you can do is to prove they are a nuisance from a sanitary point of view and injurious to health.