A New Member Welcomed
Proposed Bedford-Road Improvement
Housing Subsidies

  Wednesday, present Messrs. C. W. Horrell, C.A., J.P. (chairman), C. Claridge (vice-chairman), T. Wilmott, T. F. B. Newberry, J. Roe, A. Allebone, W. C. Tarry, D. G. Greenfield, M.D., J. Allen, F. Knight, J.P., F. Corby, T. Swindall, L. Perkins, B.Sc., J. Spencer, J.P., G. W. Coles, J.P., J. Hornsby, W. Bazeley, J.P., and C. Bates, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. S. F. Piper).

  Mr. Allen, the newly-elected member of the Council, signed the usual declaration before the business began.

  The Chairman extended a welcome to Mr. Allen, and said that gentleman had been in the town a good many years, during which time he had taken a good deal of interest in many matters for the good of the town.  For the British Legion Mr. Allen had done admirable work.  The fact that there had been no election contest, a saving to the town of £6 or £7 had given general satisfaction in the town.  (Hear, hear.)  Although he had no authority for saying so, he believed that if similar circumstances arose with any of the other political parties, the one to which Mr. Allen belonged would show the same consideration as Mr. Allen had received from two parties.  (Hear, hear.)

  Mr. Allen expressed his appreciation of the kindly words of welcome from Mr. Horrell for the Council.  He assured the members that he would try to merit those words.  He promised to serve the town, irrespective of political party, to the best of his ability.  (Hear, hear.)

  On the motion of the Chairman, Mr. Allen was appointed to the committees to which the late Mr. Bayes had been appointed.

Housing Committee

  A meeting of the Housing Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 16^th December, 1925, when there were present:- Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), W. Bazeley, C. W. Horrell, T. F. B. Newberry, and T. Wilmott.

No. 7, King’s Road

  The Committee considered what the future rent of this house should be, having regard to the fact that upon its becoming empty it would be de-controlled.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council that an inclusive rent of 10s.  3d. per week be fixed, thus bringing it into line with the Council’s non-parlour type of houses erected under the “Wheatley” Act.

Irchester Road Site

  The Clerk read a letter from the Ministry of Health agreeing to meet a deputation from the Council, upon two days’ notice being given.  The Committee selected Tuesday the 22^nd instant, as the most convenient date, and the Clerk was instructed to inform the Ministry accordingly.

  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 23^rd December, 1925, when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), A. Allebone, G. W. Coles, and Fred Knight.

Plans

were presented for:- 

  A house in Prospect-avenue, off Higham road, for Mr. P. E. Neale and passed.

  An application for a Subsidy in respect of the foregoing house was received, together with an estimate of the cost thereof, which did not exceed, including the cost of the land, £700, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to issue a Certificate in respect of same as coming within the Council’s scheme for the Subsidy of £100.

Building Returns For 1925

  The Surveyor reported that plans for one ordinary and 79 subsidy houses had been approved during the year, and that two ordinary and 65 subsidy houses had been certified completed.  One ordinary and 44 subsidy houses were in course of erection.

No. 103, Washbrook Road

  A letter was received from Mr. A. E. Cherry, suggesting certain modifications to the Committee’s decision with regard to the additions to his house.

  The Surveyor was instructed to reply that the Committee saw no reason to alter the resolution previously arrived at.

Main Road Improvements

  The Surveyor reported the receipt of a letter from the acting County Surveyor stating that any applications for grants in respect of Main Roads Improvements for the ensuing year should be received by him in time to be considered by the Roads and Bridges Committee on the 19^th December.  After consultation with the Chairman and Clerk he had prepared and submitted applications, as follows:-

  The Committee agreed and resolved to recommend the Council accordingly.

  The report was adopted.

  Dr. Greenfield asked whether the Bedford-road scheme would go forward whether the Rushden Council got the grant or not.

  The Chairman: No.  It is for the County Council to agree.  If the money is not forthcoming from the County Council we shall not take £1,000 out of the rates.

  Mr. Wilmott said the Council were hoping to get a grant of 75 per cent. towards the cost.

Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, &c., Committee was held in the High-street on Wednesday afternoon, the 6^th January, 1926, when there were present:- Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), G. W. Coles, F. Knight, and W. C. Tarry.

High Street

  The Surveyor reported that the owner of the premises on the south side of the Feathers Inn had been in communication with him regarding the setting back of that property so as to bring it into line with the Cottage Estate.  The latter had agreed to give up the land and do the necessary work subject to the payment by the Council of compensation to the extent of £80.

  The Committee visited and inspected the site and resolved to recommend the Council to agree thereto.

  This minute was left for discussion in committee.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 6^th January, 1926, when there were present:- Messrs. F. Corby (chairman), W. Bazeley, D. G. Greenfield, T. F. B. Newberry, and J. Spencer.

Health and Sanitary Reports

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

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that 26 nuisances had been dealt with during the past month, seven of which had been abated; of the outstanding nuisances 62 had been abated.

  Fifty-eight visits had been made to premises where food was prepared or sold during which inspections a quantity of beef, mutton, and pork offal to the weight of 2 qrs. 16 lbs. had been found to be unfit for human consumption and destroyed in the usual way.

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

  It was also resolved to recommend the Council to serve a notice on the owner of No. 7, Sussex-place, to cause a dangerous and defective wood floor in the ground front room to be repaired.

  The Inspector further reported that the walls and ceilings of certain rooms at No. 1, Dell-place, were dirty and dilapidated.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to serve a notice on the owner requiring the rooms to be stripped, repaired, and cleansed.

  The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his works and inspections during the month of December.

Milk and Dairies Act, 1922

  An application was received from Mr. Samuel Sharman, of Lancaster Farm, Higham Ferrers, to be registered as a retail purveyor of milk in this district and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto.

Slaughterhouse Licences

  Applications for renewals of their Slaughterhouse Licences were received from the Co-operative Society, and Messrs. E. Hollis, J. Knight, E. Thompson, F. W. Swindall, G. F. Cobley, and G. Chettle and Sons (Knackers Yard) and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto.

Petroleum Acts

  Applications were also received for renewals of their licences to store petrol from Messrs. F. Wilkins, W. Elstow, C. A. Hedley, the Lightstrung Co., England Smith & Co., Tailby & Putnam, Wadsworth Bros., H. W. Chapman, Ltd., J. W. Wrighton, Asher Abbott, Austin and Sons, the Wargate Motor Engineering Co., Alfred Peck, D. Nicholson, Lack Bros., and C. Chamberlain, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto subject to the respective stores being to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

  Applications were also received for renewals of their licences to store Carbide of Calcium from Messrs. The Lightstrung Co., The Wargate Motor Engineering Co., C. Chamberlain, W. E. Espin, and R. Parker, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto.

Destroyed Bedding

  A letter was received from Mr. Ernest Waite asking for compensation in respect of a quantity of bedding that had been destroyed after a case of infectious disease.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace part of the bedding destroyed at a cost not exceeding £1/7/6.

Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order

  The quarterly report of the Veterinary Inspector was received, from which it appeared that on the 15^th and 17^th of December last he visited 25 premises in this district and inspected 170 cows, making an individual examination of each udder.  The whole of the cows were clinically normal.

  The Committee considered the report very satisfactory.

Cemetery

  The Cemetery Registrar submitted his half-yearly report, from which it appeared that 58 interments had taken place during that period, 25 grave spaces had been sold, 2 reserved for a period of 14 years.  Thirteen headstones, 26 kerbs, and two tablets had been fixed.  The receipts had been £114  5s.  9d.

Refuse Disposal

  The Surveyor was instructed to make enquiries from the Surveyors of Letchworth, Aylesbury, and Newark as to their methods for dealing with refuse with a view to a sub-committee visiting and inspecting their respective systems.

  The report was adopted.

Dangerous Grating

  Mr. Corby asked whether, in view of the very serious accident a few days ago to a lady walking in High-street, catching the heel of her boot in a grating and breaking her thigh, the Council could see that gratings on the pavements were no longer a danger to the public.

  The Clerk said the Council could call upon every property owner to see that the gratings were not a danger, or to put them in order if they were not safe.

  Mr. Corby:  I think that that should be done.  Other people have caught their heels in, but have not had the misfortune to suffer injury.

  The Chairman promised that the Surveyor would attend to the matter.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 6^th January, 1926, at 10 a.m., when there were present: Messrs. C. W. Horrell (chairman), C. Claridge, C. Bates, J. Hornsby, L. Perkins, and James Roe.

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £1,486  13s.  5d. were examined and passed for payment.

  The report was adopted.