Bigger Programme of House Building Asked For
Shall Health Week Be Abandoned?

  Wednesday, present:- Messrs. C. Bates, J.P. (chairman), T. Swindall, T. Wilmott, C. E. Bayes, C. Claridge, Fred Knight, J.P., L. Perkins, B.Sc., F. Corby, J. Spencer, J.P., J. Hornsby, 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. Piper).

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 31^st December, 1924, when there were present:- Messrs. C. W. Horrell (chairman), C. Bates, C. Claridge, G. W. Coles, L. Perkins, and T. Wilmott.

Health and Sanitary Reports

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

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that 45 visits had been made to premises where food was prepared or sold, during which inspections he found the carcase and organs of a pig and the liver of an ox diseased and unfit for food, the total weight being 115 lbs.  The meat had been destroyed at the Sewage Farm.

  During the month the carcase and organs of a pig had been submitted for examination.

  Nine rooms had been disinfected after cases of infectious disease.

  At the Depot a quantity of bedding had been disinfected and a quantity destroyed at the Sewage Farm together with three articles of wearing apparel, all after cases of infectious disease.

  Since the last meeting 26 nuisances had been dealt with, of which nine had been abated.

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

Slaughterhouse Licence

  An application was received from Mr. F. Cobley for a licence for a slaughterhouse that he had recently erected near his premises on the Bedford-road, in accordance with plans recently passed by the Council.

  It was resolved to accede to the application.

Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order

  The Clerk reported that the Veterinary Inspector had been unable to make his usual quarterly inspection and report of the dairy cows owing to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease.

Health Week

  Mr. Piper, as secretary of the Health Week Committee, reported that the meeting had been well attended, but not so crowded as last year.  There was a deficiency of £28 on the accounts, and an appeal was being made with a view to raising this sum.  Some discussion took place as to future arrangements but no decision was arrived at, it being understood that the whole Council would consider the matter at their next meeting.

  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 7^th January, 1925, at 10 a.m., when there were present:  Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), C. W. Horrell, C. Claridge, G. W. Coles, Fred Knight, T. Swindall, 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:-

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 balances on the under-mentioned accounts were as follows:-

                Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £2,648/3/1 were examined and passed for payment.

Council Houses

  As instructed at the last meeting of the Council the Committee had under consideration the question of the periodical inspection of the whole of the Council houses.

  Having regard to the early expiration of the present Council’s term of office, the Committee resolved to defer for the present the further consideration of the question with a view to the Housing Committee of the new Council taking the matter in hand.

Increased Membership

  The Surveyor was instructed to have made two new tables and six chairs for the use of the six extra Councillors to be elected in April next.

Audit

  The Clerk submitted a letter from the District auditor stating that he completed the audit of the Council’s accounts for the year ended 31^st March last, on the 10^th December.  There was no matter upon which it was necessary to draw the attention of the Council.

Guarantee Bond

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to increase the Guarantee Bond in respect of the surveyor from £500 to £1,000.

Housing – Architect’s Fees

  A letter was received from Mr. J. W. Fisher with an account of his fees in respect of the Council’s Assisted Housing Scheme.

  A letter was also received from the Ministry of Health with regard to same.

  The account was referred to the Housing Committee with a suggestion that Mr. Fisher be asked to attend the meeting. 

  The report was adopted.

Plans, Etc., Committee

were presented for:-

  A store house at the rear of Mr. Thompson’s butcher’s shop on the Kimbolton-road, near Higham Ferrers, and no exception taken.

  Alterations to 39, High-street, for Mr. H. Doffman, and passed subject to certain amendments as to lighting, etc., being made to the satisfaction of the Surveyor.

  Applications were received for permission to erect a number of small temporary wooden buildings, etc., and it was resolved to recommend the Council to take no exception thereto.

Housing Statistics For 1924

  The Surveyor reported that plans for three ordinary and 61 subsidy houses had been approved during the past year and that two ordinary and 73 subsidy houses had ben certified completed.  On the 31^st December last one ordinary and 34 subsidy houses were in course of erection.

Robinson Road

  The Surveyor was instructed to repair the footpath where necessary in Robinson-road.

Hayway

  A memorial was received from the residents on the south side of the Hayway calling attention to the state of the footpath caused by flooding and requesting the Council to attend to same.

  The Surveyor was instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of laying a length of storm water drain, with the provision of two gulleys and also for kerbing that side of the road, and submit to the next meeting.

Bedford-Road Improvement

  A letter was received from the Co-operative Society agreeing to give up the land required, on the west side, for this improvement, subject to a close fence being provided where required.

  The Surveyor was instructed to accept the offer and at once submit the full scheme for the proposed improvement to the County Surveyor for approval.

Footpath Diversion

  Mr. Tarry attended the meeting with regard to his application for the diversion of the footpath near the Tecnic Boot Co.’s factory on the Bedford-road.  He was requested to prepare and submit particulars of his proposal to the next meeting.

  The report was adopted.

Housing

  Mr. Hornsby, on repairs to Council houses, said that in spite of expiration of the Council’s term of office in three months, there might have been time for the committee to inspect and report, but if the Finance and Estates Committee thought otherwise he would bow to their decision.  There would be six new members in the Council, and there might be some of the old ones who would not be able to retain their seats.  The new Council might take the view that it was not necessary at present to bind the committee to see if repairs were necessary or not, or they might take his view that it was necessary for certain work to be done.  He based his opinion on the reports from time to time by tenants.  He suggested that the Finance Committee, in considering the estimates for the coming year, should place a certain sum aside for contingencies, so that the tenants need not wait many months for repairs to be carried out.

  Mr. Perkins: If there is anything serious needed in repairs, I take it that it will be seen to at once.

  Mr. Spencer said that the housing statistics for 1924 were not satisfactory.  Bricklayers were not being brought into the town, and people who wanted houses built had to go out of town.  Fifty-five subsidy houses were completed and only 18 Council houses during the year.  At that rate it would take ten years to get 180 houses erected. 

Discredit On The Town.

Some of the private builders would not take the houses on; some took one or two and then left off.  The Council would have to go into this problem and have a building department of its own.  The building workers were waiting to do the work, and if the builders of the town would not undertake it, the Council should take courage and erect houses on their own, so that the people of the town might have houses to dwell in.

Rectory-Road Improvement

  The Clerk reported that, in respect to the proposed alteration of the Rectory gardens to improve Rectory-road, the Rector was quite willing, but had written saying that the Council would have to approach the ecclesiastical authorities.

Health Week

  Opening a discussion on Health Week, the Chairman said the loss was £28, and after discussion the Health and Sanitary Committee thought the matter should be referred to the whole Council to see what action should be taken about it.

  Mr. Horrell said the general opinion of the committee was that it would be quite effective once in every two or three years, and there was a suggestion that the Churches should be appealed to to give a collection.  The general impression was that it was difficult to raise the means and that the question of continuing Health Week another year should be decided now.

  Mr. Coles said he took exactly the opposite view to Mr. Horrell in this matter.  Mr. Horrell had repeated certain observations made, but he (Mr. Coles) could not say they represented the opinion of the meeting.  After discussion with the Friendly Societies he claimed that Health Week had been a great success from every point of view except that of finance.  This Council was the

Chief Health Authority,

and it was deplorable that anybody should be a member of that health authority and not be keen on health efforts.  They had had some very fine lecturers, backed by the doctors of the town, and they had been appreciated by everyone.  This Council ought not to express an opinion at all on this matter of continuing every year.  The people who should be consulted were the people who worked for and organised this affair.  This Council, besides, would not be right in passing a resolution for a future Council, probably of different members.  The next Council ought to have an opportunity of saying whether Health Week should be held or not.  The reason Health Week showed a loss was not far to seek.  As far as the clubs, Friendly Societies, Trade Unions, and other societies were concerned the financial support had been good, but the employers had not responded.  The M.P. had supported it, but his opponents were “also ran.”  It had been said that the people who went to those meetings were the intelligent section of the town, who did not need the instruction, and that the people who needed the instruction most never attended them; but he would ask them, What about the newspapers?  They had given good and lengthy reports – (hear, hear) – and who should say how many people had read them?  If Health Week had been properly supported all round they would not have had this question raised at that meeting.  With the class of lecturers, the attendances, and the information they had, it was deplorable that the collections had only totalled £10.  If the chairman of every meeting had told the meetings that certain expenses would have to be covered, he was sure there would then have been no debt.  The places of worship had plenty of other calls, but they could not have appealed for a better cause, and he did not think any place of worship would have refused to take a collection for Health Week.  He urged that they should pass no resolution at that meeting, but defer the matter, except in regard to Mr. Piper, who was placed in an abominable position for a public servant.

  Mr. Horrell said he had never expressed his own views at all, but had only interpreted the views of the committee.  Personally he thought the Health Week movement had done good, but they had to bear in mind that there was a debt of £28, and it had to be paid off.  It was certainly a very unviable position for a servant of the Council.

  Mr. Spencer said they had adopted the wrong method to raise the money.  He had always thought that the chairman or some individual appointed by him should open a subscription.  If that were done now in the case of the £28, they would have no difficulty in raising it in a week’s time if they approached the right people individually.

  Mr. Perkins: Can Mr. Coles tell us how many Friendly Societies there are in Rushden?

  Mr. Coles: There are 60 shoe manufacturers, and only one contributed to Health Week funds.

  Mr. Perkins: Could the secretary tell the meeting how much was received from the Friendly Societies?

  Mr. Coles suggested that if that information was given the other details should be made known.

  Mr. Perkins pressed for the information he has asked for and Mr. Piper said that out of the total receipts of £9  1s.  6d. the Friendly Societies had contributed £5  9s.

  Mr. Perkins said the Health and Sanitary Committee thought that one of their officers had been put into a responsible position and that he should not be put into the same position next year.  He had happened to be chairman of the first meeting in Health Week and took care to point out to the people who attended the need for collections.  The

Response Was Small

through the week, or the number of people who attended was small.  If they were forcing five meetings a week on the public, it would be better to run Health Week less often, or if the Friendly Societies and the public wanted them every year, let them run them themselves.  The committee did not want to abolish Health Week, but they did not want the same efforts to be made year after year by one of their servants in this fashion.  It was the business of the Council to look after the public health of the town, but scarcely to look after the debts on these meetings.

  Mr. Wilmott wondered if the Sanitary Inspector and the doctors could not do with a rest another year.

  Mr. Coles suggested that if a change of lecturers was desired they could exchange with Wellingborough or Kettering.

  Mr. Swindall said he thought Health Week had been successful, but that it was best to give it a rest for a year or two.  He did not think the Council should decide now, but leave it till July, and meanwhile get rid of the present debt.

  On Mr. Swindall’s proposition, seconded by Mr. Wilmott, it was agreed to leave the question of repeating Health Week yearly to the new Council.

  Mr. Perkins said they could not leave the Sanitary Inspector to pay the debt.  If one or two shoe manufacturers had been properly approached the debt would not be existent now.

  Mr. Horrell said that if the chairman would take the responsibility of opening a subscription he would give him all the help he could.

  The Chairman agreed, and the meeting assented.

Newton-Road Improvement

  The Surveyor was instructed to seek tenders for pulling down “Clerk’s House” in Newton-road for the purpose of improving the road.

Soap Factory

  An application from Mr. Andrew Austin for permission to erect a soap factory in Irchester-road was referred to the Sanitary Committee.