What Books The People Are Reading
The Assisted Housing Scheme
Proposed Rectory Road Improvements
Many New Plans Passed

  Wednesday, present Messrs. L. Perkins B.Sc., J.P. (chairman), C. Bates (vice-chairman), T. Swindall, T. Wilmott, C. E. Bayes, F. Knight, J.P., C. W. Horrell, C.A., F. Corby, J. Spencer, J.P., J. Hornsby, and G. W. Coles, J.P., with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin) and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. S. F. Piper).

  The Chairman, in order to economise the time of the Council suggested that the minutes be commented on if necessary, without reading them in detail.  The resolutions had been numbered to facilitate their being passed.  Members having had copies of the minutes, he said, were acquainted with the nature of them and it needed only to refer to the resolutions by numbers.  This he did in respect of the minutes moved by himself and these were quickly dealt with.

Library Committee

  A meeting of the Library Committee was held at the Library on Wednesday, the 14^th November, 1923, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), S. Saddler, T. Swindall, C. Claridge, W. W. Rial, J. Spencer, and the Revs. C. J. Keeler and P. Robson.

Minutes

  The minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee having been circulated amongst the members it was resolved that they be taken as read and confirmed.

Book Selection Committee

  It was resolved that the Book Selection Committee consisting of the Chairman, with Messrs. W. W. Rial and S. Saddler, Miss Clark, and the Revs. C. J. Keeler and P. Robson, be reappointed for the ensuing year.

Additional Members

  It was resolved to recommend to the Council that Mr. B. M. Jones, headmaster of the Council South-end School, be added to this Committee.

Books Issued

  The Secretary reported that the number of books issued for the 12 months 31^st August, 1923, was 32,764, made up as follows:-

New Books

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to authorise the Committee to expend a sum of £40 in the purchase of new books.

Papers and Periodicals

  It was agreed to continue the present arrangements with Mr. Charles Robinson for the supply of papers and periodicals for the year 1924 upon the same terms.

  It was also resolved that the annual sale of the papers, etc., be held in December as usual.

  The report was adopted.

Housing Committee

  A meeting of the Housing Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 28^th November, 1923, when there were present:-  Mr. F. Knight (chairman), Messrs. C. E. Bayes, J. Hornsby, C. W. Horrell, J. Spencer, T. Swindall, and T. Wilmott.

Housing

BUILDING PLOTS:-
  The Surveyor reported that several enquiries had been made as to the building plots for sale in Oval-road.

  It was resolved that the price of these plots be 4/- per yard, and the Surveyor was instructed to at once proceed with the necessary road making.

  It was also resolved to make some deviations from the road as originally laid out, and, if possible, make an arrangement with the Allotment Association to make it fit in with their building scheme.  Enquiries had also been made as to whether it would be possible on the purchase of plots of land for part of the purchase money to be paid down and the remainder to be paid out of the subsidy.  The Committee were unanimously of opinion that this course was an impossible one to adopt.

Additional Houses

  The Chairman reported that Mr. A. Sanders had found it impossible to accept the contract for the 10 additional houses at the price quoted in his tender for those under his present contract.  He had been in communication with Messrs. Packwood and Son, who were prepared to accept a contract on their original tender, and it was resolved to accept their tender accordingly and also their tender for the whole of the fencing required for the 30 houses.

  The Clerk was instructed to notify the Architects accordingly.

Letting

  It was resolved that in future the letting of all houses be made by the whole Committee.

  The report was adopted.

Plans, &c., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 28^th November, 1923, when there were present:- Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), L. Perkins, C. Bates, G. W. Coles, F. Corby, C. W. Horrell, and J. Hornsby.

Plans

were presented for:-

  House in Oval-road for Mr. George Headland, and passed.

  Two houses in Robinson-road, one for Mr. E. Smith and one for Me. E. Coleman, and passed.

  House for Mr. G. H. Emerton on the St. Crispin Estate, and passed.

  Two bungalows off the Wymington-road, near the old windmill, one for Mr. W. H. Dilley and one for Mrs. M. A. Dilley, and passed.

  House on the St. Crispin Estate for Mr. Ernest Chattell, and passed.

  House on the St. Crispin Estate for Mr. Wm. Chattell, and passed.

  Bungalow on the St. Crispin Estate for Mr. H. Ellingham, and passed.

  House on the Hayway for Mr. H. Golesworthy, and passed.

  Two houses in Robinson-road, one for Mr. W. F. Mason and one for Mr. F. E. Chettle, and passed subject to the w.c. arrangements being amended to the satisfaction of the Surveyor.

  House in Newton-road for Mr. Samuel Saint, and passed.

  House in Robinson-road, at the corner of King’s-place, for Mr. H. E. Whittington, and passed.

  House in Grafton-road for Mr. H. H. Bailey, and passed.

  Applications for subsidies in respect of the whole of the foregoing houses, together with one from Mr. James Penny in respect of a plan passed at the last meeting, were received and it was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Surveyor to issue Certificates in respect of same as coming within the Council’s scheme for the subsidy of £100 each.

Miscellaneous Buildings

  Applications were received from Mr. W. Colson, 26, Wellingborough-road, Mr. A. Bell, 127, Washbrook-road, Mr. S. Peck, Hove-road, and Mr. C. Goodman, 45, Spencer-road, for permission to erect various small buildings near their premises and it was resolved to recommend the Council to take no exception thereto.

Rectory Road

  The Chairman reported that as instructed at the last meeting, he, together with the Chairman of the Council, the Clerk, and the Surveyor, met a deputation from the L.M. & S. Railway Company at the north end of Rectory-road, on the 22^nd instant, and submitted to them the Council’s proposals for providing a road from the Station to the Newton-road in order to relieve the High-street of much of the heavy traffic now coming from the station.  If such road were provided it was estimated that at least 60 per cent. of the traffic from the railway would use the new road.  Before the scheme could be started it would be necessary to obtain the assistance of the Railway Company, and the Committee suggested to the representatives of the Company that they should give up the land required for bringing the road from Beaconsfield-terrace to the Station-road and construct a road thereon and also make up the present road approaching the Station from the High-street at their own expense and then dedicate the road as far as it was on their property to the public, upon which being done, the Council would take it over as a public highway and also undertake the lighting.  The Surveyor undertook to supply the Company with an estimate of the whole of the cost.  The deputation undertook that the scheme should receive the early attention of the directors of the Company.

Factory and Workshops Acts

  A letter was received from Messrs. Knight and Lawrence, Limited, suggesting various alterations to their factory in connection with their application for a certificate that it was provided with proper means of escape in case of fire.

  It was resolved that the further consideration be adjourned until the next meeting.

  An application was received from Messrs. G. Selwood and Co. for a certificate that their factory in Harborough-road was provided with proper means of escape in case of fire.

  The Surveyor submitted a report with regard to the various exits provided, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the application.

Harborough and Park Roads (North) Corner

  Attention was called to the dangerous state of this corner owing to the path jutting too far into the road.

  The Surveyor was instructed to have the path set back a few feet, it being understood that the owner of the property near would give up the necessary land.

Diversion of Footpath

  An application was received from the Tecnic Boot Co., Ltd., for permission to divert the footpath from the Bedford-road, near their factory, in accordance with a plan submitted to the meeting.

  The Clerk was instructed to inform the Company that although the Council had no power themselves to make an Order diverting the footpath as desired they would recommend the Council to raise no objection thereto.

Higham and Kimbolton Roads Corner

  The Clerk submitted a letter from the Town Clerk of Higham Ferrers stating that the owner of the land at this corner was prepared to sell 40 yards of ground for £25 subject to the purchasers bearing the cost of moving back the boarding and the cost of any compensation payable to the tenant.  The County Council, in the event of the ground being purchased, would prepare a scheme for the improvement of the corner.  The letter enquired whether this Council would be willing to join with the Higham Ferrers Council in the purchase of the land.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to inform the Higham Ferrers Council that they would be prepared to contribute a sum of £12/10/- towards the improvement when complete.

Harborough and Bedford Roads (South) Corner

  Attention was called to the dangerous state of this corner owing to the advertisement hoarding there.

  The Chairman and Surveyor were appointed a sub-committee to see the owner of the land upon which the hoarding was situate with a view to it either being removed or set back.

  The report was adopted.

  Mr. Wilmott, referring to the plans for new houses, said that the Housing Committee were very pleased to have had so many plans in front of them, all of a very substantial nature.  There were 15 passed and 18 applications had been received for the subsidy and applications were still coming in.  It showed that the Council had acted wisely in making up the Government subsidy to £100.  Although the committee sat for two hours they would not grumble if they could pass as many plans every time.  (hear, hear.)  Referring to the proposed opening of Rectory-road to the Station, and the meeting of the L.M. and S. Railway delegation, Mr. Wilmott said that as far as his observation went, the Railway representatives seemed to be impressed and fall in with the suggested scheme.  The requested covering-in of the platform at the Rushden Station, and also the danger of the low fence at the Washbrook-road bridge had been brought before the notice of the delegation, as well as the Rectory-road scheme.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 5^th December, 1923, at 10 a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. L. Perkins (chairman), C. Bates, F. Corby, C. W. Horrell, F. Knight, J. Hornsby and T. Wilmott.

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 of the Committee:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

  The Committee also examined the Treasurer’s Accounts from which it appeared that he had received the following sums during the past month:-

And that the following balances were in his hands:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £3,569/5/6 were examined and passed for payment.

Memorandum of General District Rate

  The Rates Clerk submitted the following Memorandum of General District Rate:-

Rate made the 18^th day of April, 1923

  The Rates Clerk also submitted a list of the irrecoverable amounts, as follows:

And it was resolved to recommend the Council that they be written off as such.

  The report was adopted.

Railway Acts, 1921

  A letter was received from the Northampton Chamber of Commerce with regard to the formation of a local joint committee under the above Act, and enquiring if this Council wished to apply for membership.  The consideration was deferred to a future meeting.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 12^th December, 1923, when there were present:-  Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), L. Perkins, C. E. Bayes, C. Claridge, F. Knight, J. Spencer, and T. Swindall.

Health and Sanitary Reports

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

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that since the last meeting 20 nuisances had been dealt with, and of this number four had been abated.  Of the outstanding nuisances 15 had been abated.

  Three rooms had been disinfected after cases of infectious disease and a quantity of bedding disinfected at the depot.  A quantity of bedding had also been destroyed at the Sewage Farm.

  A quantity of beef and pork offal, which upon examination was found to be unfit for human consumption, had been destroyed in the usual way.

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

Milk and Dairies Act, 1922

  Applications were received for registration under this Act from Mr. W. H. Keach of No. 17 Council Cottages, Higham Ferrers and Mr. H. S. Gray of Wymington Lodge, Wymington, the former as a cow-keeper and retail purveyor of milk and the latter as a retail purveyor of milk.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the applications.

Refuse Receptacles

  The Sanitary Inspector also reported that the statutory notice served on the owners of the property No. 78 High-street to provide a sufficient and proper refuse receptacle had not been complied with.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Inspector to supply to the property a galvanised iron sanitary bin and charge the owners with the cost.

Cemetery

  The Surveyor reported that the fence on the north side of the entrance gates on the Newton Road for about 20 yards required repairing.

  He was instructed to do what was necessary.

Desecration of Graves

  Attention was called to the desecration of a grave in the Cemetery.  The Committee expressed their keen disapproval of the action and gave instructions for proceedings to be taken against any future offenders.

Scavenging

  The Surveyor read a letter from the Surveyor to the Audley Urban District Council stating that his Council would be prepared to sell their two covered-in scavenging vans, which had a capacity of three cube yards each, for £60.  They had been recently renovated and were in good condition.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct Mr. Bayes, together with the Surveyor, to inspect the vans and if considered satisfactory for this town to purchase them on behalf of the Council.

  The report was adopted.

Rats

  Mr. Corby asked whether the Council had any responsibility for the destruction of rats on private property.

  The Chairman said that the Council were responsible for public property and such property as they used.

  The Clerk said that the Council had power to prosecute owners of any property if it harboured rats that were a nuisance to other people, just in the same way as they could prosecute if nuisances were not abated. 

Various Items

  A letter being received from the Ministry of Labour, Wellingborough Employment Exchange, asking that the Council appoint a representative to serve on the Committee there, the Chairman was elected and consented to serve.

  Mr. Coles drew attention to the condition of footpaths in the town, which he said, were in a dangerous state, owing to the amount of mud that lay on them.  He said he admitted that wet weather, and the excavations were largely the cause, but in some places there was half-an-inch of mud.

  Mr. Spencer said that at the corner of Station-road and High-street the pavement had mud on two or three inches thick.

  Mr. Corby said it was most noticeable on crossings, where it got trodden onto the paths.  It was very dangerous and someone ought to be made responsible.

  The Chairman said that the Surveyor would no doubt put extra labour on as necessary.