Plans, Etc., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 29th Nov., 1916, when there were present:- Messrs. J. Spencer (chairman), T. Wilmott, W. Bazeley, and T. Swindall.

Plans

were presented by:-

Mr. A. Lilley for an open shed adjoining his factory in Beech-road and no exception taken.

Mr. Childs for additions to factory off Park-place and passed.

The Tecnic Boot Co. Ltd., for open shed at the rear of their factory in Harborough-road and passed.

Public Lighting

The Lighting Sub-committee reported that they had made arrangements with the police for the following additional lamps to be lighted:-

One at the corner of Newton and Robinson-roads.

One at the corner of Rectory-road and Queen-street.

One at the corner of Fitzwilliam and Duck-streets, and

One on the Wellingborough-road opposite Station-road.

Road Service

The Surveyor reported that at the request of the County Surveyor he had attended a conference at Northampton having for its object the provision of men to undertake the repair and maintenance of roads at the front. The only employees of the Council other than the road foreman of the ages required had already joined the labour battalion, and it was understood that these would be transferred to road service. The road foreman would also join this service and would be leaving almost immediately.

Council Houses – Class “A” Type

The Surveyor reported that the garden paths had now been completed.

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 5th Dec., 1916, at 10a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. J. Spencer (chairman), T. Wilmott, J. Claridge, C. Bates, and Fred Knight.

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 Accounts

The Collector’s accounts were also examined, from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums since the last meeting:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

The Committee also examined the Treasurer’s accounts, from which it appeared that he had received the following sums since the last meeting:-

And that the balances were as follows:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts amounting to £766/10/9 were examined and passed for payment.

Surveyor’s Staff

It was resolved to recommend the Council to fix the remuneration of Miss Madin during her temporary employment at £1 per week dating from the commencement of service.

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 6th December, 1916, when there were present:- Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), J. Spencer, C. Bates, and J. Claridge.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The report of the Medical Officer for the month of November was received.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the month of November 28 preliminary notices had been issued, calling attention to nuisances, &c., which for the most part were receiving attention.

Acting on the advice of the medical practitioner in attendance, a quantity of bedding had been destroyed after a death from consumption. It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace the bedding at a cost not exceeding £1/7/6.

The Inspector also reported that he had visited and inspected the property numbered 69, Cromwell-road, from which a case of diphtheria had been notified, and found amongst other defects a defective ventilating shaft to the drain. This shaft was much too near the back bedroom window, the top of the shaft being only about eight feet away. He recommended that it should be taken down and refixed on the main wall of the building and carried up above the eaves gutters. It was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Inspector to serve a notice on the owner requiring him to carry out this work forthwith.

The Inspector was instructed to communicate with the owners of Nos. 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, and 112, Glassbrook-road, with a view to the yard paving, which was very much worn, being repaired.

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

Refuse Receptacles

The Inspector of Nuisances submitted a report with regard to a number of houses showing the nature of the accommodation for the deposit of refuse.

It appeared to the Committee by this report that the houses therein referred to were without a sufficient ashtub, ashpit, or other receptacle for the deposit of refuse, and it was resolved to report to the Council accordingly, with a recommendation that notices be served upon the owners requiring them within 28 days to provide for each house a sufficient and proper receptacle.

Raunds U.D. Council

The Clerk reported that he had been approached by the Clerk to the Raunds Urban District Council with a view to the Inspector of Nuisances being allowed to act in the Raunds District for that Council in any case of emergency. The application was made in consequence of the Raunds Inspector being about to leave for military service. The committee agreed to their Inspector giving the assistance required during the temporary vacancy at Raunds.

Hospital, Bedford Road

The Clerk also reported that the Military Authorities had inquired if they might have the use of this Hospital for the isolation of contact cases, and after consultation with the Chairman he had provisionally agreed for the building to be placed at their disposal, it being understood that they would take over full control so long as they had the privilege to use it and that they would immediately give up possession if at any time it is required by the Council for infectious disease.

The Committee approved.

The report was adopted.

Shopping

A communication was received from the Home Office, suspending the Order for the early closing of shops from Dec. 14th to 23rd.

Roll of Honour

A letter was received from Mr. W. A. Fathers, enclosing a resolution unanimously passed by a representative meeting of Clubs and Trade Unions, urging the Council to make efforts to keep up-to-date the Roll of Honour, and offering their assistance in securing that object.

The Chairman: We are all in sympathy with the object of the letter.

The Clerk said the town Roll of Honour was kept up until the Military Act came into force, since when nothing further had been done.

Mr. Bazeley said the list could not be made complete until the end of the war. Then, if the clubs would assist the Council, and canvas from house to house, the list might be completed.

The Rev. A. Kitchin suggested that an advertisement might be issued asking relatives to hand in names of soldiers and sailors. It would not make the list complete, but it would add a good many names.

The Clerk said that at present about 1,200 names were on the list.

It was decided to send a letter expressing full sympathy with the object but stating that it was felt the best time to deal with the matter would be in a permanent form at the end of the war.