Wednesday, present: Councillors Fred Knight, J.P. (chairman), J. Claridge, J.P., C.C., (vice-chairman), W. Bazeley, J.P., C. Bates, J. Spencer, J.P., J. Hornsby, T. Swindall, L. Perkins, B.Sc., C. E. Bayes, T. Wilmott, and J. Tomlin, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Acting Sanitary Inspector (Mr. A. E. Lloyd).

Allotments Committee

A meeting of the Allotments Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 21st January, 1920, when there were present:- Messrs. J. Spencer (chairman), J. Claridge, J. Hornsby, J. S. Mason, W. Gutteridge, H. Smith, L. Baxter, and J. S. Clipson.

War-Time Allotments

A letter was received from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries asking if the Committee were now in a position to furnish the Board with particulars of any arrangements entered into by the Council for the continued possession under the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Act 1916 of the lands entered upon by the Council for Allotments under the Cultivation of Lands Order. The right of occupation under the order ceased with the termination of the war, and it was resolved to give public notice by advertisement that the present arrangement would terminate on the 1st March next, but that the Council acting on behalf of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries would make arrangements for the continued possession of the lands for a further period of two years in all cases where the present occupiers desired and the Council considered it reasonable so to do, at fair rentals to be arranged; all Cultivators requiring to retain possession to be asked to obtain forms of request to be supplied at the Office of the Council and to be filled in and returned to the Clerk not later than the 7th February next.

A letter was received from Mr. F. Layrum with regard to a plot of land adjoining his house, No. 43, Pytchley-road, occupied as a War-time Allotment by Mr. Barker and asking for possession. The Committee considered the request a reasonable one and the Clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Barker that his occupation must cease on the 1st March next.

Further Allotments

A letter received by the Council from the Allotment Association asking for the provision of further allotments in the Wellingborough-road district was considered and the Clerk instructed to approach Mr. John Clark asking him if he would be prepared to let for this purpose about five acres of his land adjoining the Washbrook-road Allotments.

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 28th January, 1920, when there were present : Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), J. Claridge, W. Bazeley, L. Perkins, J. Spencer, T. Swindall, and T. Wilmott.

Plans

were presented for:-

A motor shed off Beech-road for Mr. A. Lilley and no exception taken.

A dwelling-house on the Bedford-road for Mr. G. Agutter and passed.

Additions to workshop on the Newton-road for Messrs. Wadsworth Brothers and passed.

Additions to factory in Crabb-street for Mr. E. Wrighton and passed.

A leather store at the rear of Nos. 14 and 15 Oswald-road for Mr. Horace Wright and passed.

Coverings to yards at the rear of Nos. 13 and 15, Alfred-street for Mr. J. T. Sumpter and rejected as contravening the Bye-laws.

A leather shed in Upper Queen-street for Messrs. W. Green and Son and no exception taken.

An extension to leather store in Portland-road for Messrs. H. E. Wilmott and Co., Ltd., and no exception taken.

Road Motor Signs

A letter was received from the Automobile Association offering to provide road motor signs if the Council would provide and fix the necessary standards.

It was resolved to recommend the Council to accept the offer.

Fire Brigade

The Fire Brigade Sub-Committee reported that they had considered the tenders received for renovating the Fire Station and had accepted that of Mr. A. Jacques for £27 15s., the lowest.

The Committee approved.

A letter was received from the Captain of the Brigade requesting that in consideration of his long service Mr. G. R. Turner be made an honorary member of the Brigade for life.

The Committee agreed and resolved to recommend the Council accordingly.

Horses

Mr. Wilmott reported that he with Mr. Bainbridge visited Mears Ashby on Wednesday, the 21st ult., and purchased a horse from Mr. W. Callis for 80 guineas on behalf of the Council.

Electric Vehicle

The Surveyor reported that the electrically propelled dust-van was now working and giving complete satisfaction.

It was resolved to recommend the Council to accept the battery guarantee of the Chloride Electrical Co.

Newton Road

The Surveyor was instructed to arrange for the cutting and relaying of about 400 yards of the hedge near the Council’s housing site on the Newton-road.

Main Roads

A letter was received from the County Surveyor asking for the Council’s estimate of the maintenance of the Main Roads in this district for the year ending 31st March, 1921.

The Surveyor was requested to prepare and forward the estimate required.

The report was adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 4th February, 1920, at 10 a.m., when there were present: - Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), C. Bates, J. Claridge, and T. Wilmott.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

The Committee examined the Surveyor’s cash account with the wages book, 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:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts amounting to £1177 10s. 10d. were examined and passed for payment.

Horses

The Chairman reported that the horse purchased on behalf of the Council being a cash transaction, he with two other members of the Council had signed a cheque for £84 in favour of Mr. W. Callis in payment.

The Committee approved and recommended the Council to confirm the action of the Chairman.

Housing Loan

The Clerk was instructed to make arrangements with the Treasurer for the placing on deposit of £10,000 of this loan until such time as it is required.

National War Bonds

It was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Clerk to realise the £1,500 War Bonds standing in the name of the Council.

The report was adopted.

Regarding the last item in the report the Chairman explained that during the war they were not spending as much money as in normal times, and they invested £1,500 in War Bonds. That sum would now prove to be useful “nest egg.”

Health and Sanitary Committee

A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 4th February, 1920, when there were present :- Messrs. J. Claridge (chairman), F. Knight, C.E. Bayes, J. Hornsby, C. W. Horrell, and J. Tomlin.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The report of the Medical Officer of Health for the month of January was received.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the past month he had served 22 preliminary notices calling attention to nuisances and other matters, all of which were receiving attention.

Two lots of infected bedding had been destroyed since the last meeting and the rooms cleansed upon the advice of the medical practitioners in attendance owing to two cases of consumption having proved fatal. It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace part of the bedding destroyed in one of the cases at a cost not exceeding £1 7s. 6d.

A book belonging to the Public Library found in a house where a case of infectious disease had been notified had been destroyed. It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace the book.

During the month a quantity of unsound tins of fish, fruit, etc. had been surrendered and destroyed as being unfit for human consumption.

Defective yard paving in various parts of the town had been repaired or renewed during the month.

The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his work since the last meeting.

Factory Acts

The Inspector also reported that during the month of January 49 notices had been sent to factories respecting the giving out of work, and 34 lists had been received relating to 94 outworkers receiving work inside the district and 16 outworkers receiving work outside the district.

Inspector of Nuisances

An intimation was received from Mr. A. E. Lloyd that he wished to resign his appointment as Inspector of Nuisances to this Council.

It was resolved to recommend the Council to accept the resignation and to thank Mr. Lloyd for his service during the past two years.

It was also resolved to recommend the Council to advertise for a successor.

Public Conveniences

The question of the provision of Public Conveniences for both sexes referred to this Committee by the Council at their last meeting was considered.

The Surveyor was instructed to prepare a plan for the erection of such conveniences on the Green at the rear of the Fountain at the north-western corner with entrances from the footway near Messrs. Lilley and Skinner’s warehouse and the Wellingborough-road, with an estimate of the cost.

Veterinary Inspector

A letter was received from Mr. J. Bainbridge stating that he was retiring from practice and resigning his appointment as Veterinary Inspector to the Council.

It was resolved to recommend the Council to accept the resignation.

A letter was also received from Mr. E. W. Parks, M.R.C.V.S., stating that he was taking over Mr. Bainbridge’s practice and asking that he might retain the appointment as Veterinary Inspector to the Council.

It was also resolved to recommend the Council to appoint Mr. E. W. Parks in the place of Mr. Bainbridge.

Circulars, Orders, etc.

The Clerk reported the receipt from the Ministry of Health of the following circulars, orders, etc., during the past month:-

Prevention and cure of Influenza

List of Sanatoria

Orders with regard to acute Encephalitis Lethargica and acute Polio-Encephalitis

Memorandum with regard to the annual report of the Medical Officer of Health

Supply of Milk, Etc.

The report was adopted.

Food Control

Mr. John Spencer having resigned his position on the Area Food Control Committee, Mr. Claridge expressed the hope that the resignation would be withdrawn.

The Chairman endorsed this, as did Mr. Wilmott.

Mr. Spencer said he could not consent to do this. The Chairman was appointed in his place.