New Clerk For Rushden Council
Mr. W. L. Beetenson as Whole-Time Officer
Accountant Also To Be Appointed

  After an hour’s discussion in camera on Wednesday, the Rushden Urban District Council made important changes in its administrative staff.

  Mr. W. L. Beetenson was appointed as a whole-time Clerk in succession to Mr. George S. Mason, who is to retire after 41 years’ service to the Council and the old Local Board.  An accountant is also to be appointed, and the staffs of various departments will be readjusted.

  Other interesting business on Wednesday related to 70 new houses in Highfield-road, the building of which has now been approved by the Ministry of Health.

  An important report on the reorganisation of the Council’s staff followed on intimation from the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason) that he would not seek reappointment after March 31^st.

  A special committee, appointed by the Council last October, and consisting of Messrs. Allebone, Spencer, Coles, Horrell and Roe, made the following recommendations:-

  Clerk’s Department. – That the Acting Clerk, Mr. W. L. Beetenson, be appointed whole time Clerk to the Council, as and from April 1^st, at a salary of £500 per annum, his salary to include all the ordinary duties of a Clerk to the Council, but to be exclusive of the fees as Returning Officer at elections.  It was understood that Mr. Beetenson would also be appointed Clerk to the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board at a salary of £100 per annum, both the appointments to be designated as established posts under the Local Government and Other Officers Superannuation Act.

  That a whole time Accountant be appointed, his duties to include the keeping of the accounts of the Council and the Water Board and their submission to audit together with the accounts at present kept in the Surveyor’s Department.  This appointment also to be designated as an established post under the Superannuation Act, the Water Board to be asked to contribute a sum of £50 annually towards the salary.

  That a youth be also appointed at a salary not exceeding £50 per annum.

  Surveyor’s Department. – The transfer of Mr. G. S. Turner to the Rates Department, and the engagement of an office boy.

  Rates Department. – The transfer of Mr. H. C. Allen and the substitution of Mr. Turner, all monies received in future for the preparation of the Voters Lists or any other work to be paid direct into the account of the Council.

  Housing Department. – The services of the present Housing Inspector, Mr. J. G. Norris (who was appointed temporarily until March 31^st) to be dispensed with at that date, Mr. H. C. Allen, of the Rates Department to be appointed to the position at a salary of £225 per annum.

“Not Evading Publicity”

  Mr. Allen said that before the report of the special committee was taken he would move that the whole Council resolve itself into committee on that report.

  The Chairman:  We must receive it, and then, if you like, you can move that it be referred to the whole Council.

  On Mr. Allebone’s proposition, seconded by Mr. Hornsby, the report was then formally received.

  Mr. Allen followed with his proposition and said he thought the reasons were fairly obvious.  Before a matter of such moment was decided he thought it was only fair that the whole Council should discuss it.

  Mr. Allebone observed that in order to convey the information to the Press it would be necessary to resolve the meeting back into full Council for the decision to be confirmed.

  Mr. Wilmott:  Do you think it is necessary to go into committee?  I think the town ought to know, if it is anything vital.

  The Chairman:  The difficulty is that while each department has had part of the information placed before it, they have not had the whole.

  Mr. Allen:  It is for this Council, after resolving itself into committee, to publish a report.  I am not evading publicity in the slightest.

  The Chairman:  That is right.  I am strongly in favour of publicity myself.

Cost To The Town

  When the public agenda had been completed the Council sat in committee for 55 minutes, and the “Echo and Argus” representative was then recalled.

  Mr. Allebone moved the adoption of the special committee’s report as printed on the agenda.  He said it meant that the administration cost to the Council would be £3,580 per year.  The sum of £730 per year was subscribed by other authorities, leaving a net total cost to the Council as recommended, of £2,850 per year.

  The report was carried unanimously, with a separate resolution, moved from the chair and seconded by Mr. Horrell, appointing Mr. Beetenson as whole-time Clerk from April 1^st.

  Returning thanks for the appointment, Mr. Beetenson said he certainly wished and hoped that he would have the goodwill and co-operation of the members of the Council, and then he saw no fear that he would be able to carry out the duties to the entire satisfaction of the Council.  He hoped that when the time came for him to relinquish the office they would have no cause to regret the appointment.

  The Chairman:  I should like to say that we wish you well and hope you will live long to carry out the duties.  I am sure you will have the support of every member.

70 Houses Approved

  A letter from the Ministry of Health authorised the Council to invite tenders for the erection of 70 houses in Highfield-road, and for the necessary road and sewer works.

  Mr. Allen said he was sure the Council would be pleased at the dispatch with which the Ministry had agreed to the building of the 70 houses.    “There was not time to get tenders out before this meeting,” he added, “but we don’t wish to waste any time with the road-making, and we thought that if the Council will give us permission to accept the most satisfactory tenders it would considerably facilitate matters.

  Mr. Horrell:  I don’t wish to retard the Housing Committee at all.  I think the suggestion is a very good one, but I think we ought to know the type of house they propose to build.

  Mr. Allen:  The type we propose to put up are the same type as the 56 already put up in Highfield-road.

  Mr. Roe asked whether the tenders were limited to local contractors or would be thrown open.  It was a very large amount, and he personally would like the tenders thrown open.

  Mr. Allen replied that no advertisement for tenders for the 70 houses had yet been inserted in the Press.  That would be a matter for the next Housing Committee, and they would keep the point in mind.

  On the proposition of Mr. Coles, who referred to the number of people unemployed, the Housing Committee was authorised to accept suitable tenders for the road-making.

Building Plans

  Approval was given to plans of a house and shop on the Irchester-road for Mr. W. J. Barker; house, Irchester-road, Mr. A. J. Gaunt; five bungalows, Bedford-road, and one in Avenue-road, Mr. A. Osborne; garage (wooden building), Irchester-road, Mr. C. Mole; and garage (wooden building), Washbrook-road allotments, Mr. A. Nichols.

Building Statistics

  The Surveyor reported that for the year ended 31^st December last, plans for 57 ordinary houses and 56 Council houses had been passed.  The number of houses certified as complete during the same period was 47 ordinary and 56 Council.  Twenty-three ordinary houses were in course of construction at the end of the year, and 12 houses for which plans had been passed were not yet commenced.

High Street Traffic

  The Acting Clerk reported that as instructed he had been in communication with the Police Authorities with regard to the congestion often caused in the High-street by the parking of cars.  The Police were satisfied that the street was unsuitable for unilateral parking but agreed to take such steps as would in their opinion obviate much of the trouble.

Borrowed Firemen

Following a report that members of the Fire Brigade had again visited the Odell Leather Company’s works to pump water from the river to the tanks, it was decided that future applications for such service must be decided by the Fire Brigade Sub-Committee.

Overhead Lines

  A notice was received from the Rushden and District Electricity Supply Co., Ltd., of their intention to lay underground cables in Wellingborough-road and Fitzwilliam-street.

  An application was also received from the same company for permission to erect low tension overhead electric lines on the Washbrook Allotment Estate.

  It was resolved to accede to the application subject to the standards being erected to the satisfaction of the Surveyor.  In intimating the decision of the Council to the Company the Acting Clerk was instructed to express the hope that if and when the estate was developed the cables would be placed underground.

Thirty-One Slaughter-men

 The Inspector reported that under Section 3 of the Slaughter of Animals Act, which came into force on January 1^st, it was necessary that all slaughter-men be licensed by the local authority.  The duration of the licence was for a period not exceeding three years, at the discretion of the Council.

  Thirty-one applications were submitted from various slaughter-men engaged in the district, and it was resolved that a licence be granted in each case for a period of two years, a fee of 1s each to be charged.

Cemetery Report

  The half-yearly report of the Cemetery Registrar showed that for the six months ended 31^st December, 1933, 69 interments had taken place.  Thirty-four grave spacers had been purchased, and eight reserved for a period of fourteen years.  Ten headstones had been erected, 31 graves or grave spaces enclosed with kerbs, 25 flower vases placed, and three additional inscriptions engraved on existing memorials.  The fees collected amounted to £156  16s.  6d. and no fees were outstanding.

  The Surveyor submitted an estimate for a supply of water to the centre part of the Cemetery, which, including 12 additional cans, amounted to £25.  The committee felt that this was an improvement long overdue, and the Council instructed the Surveyor to put the work in hand.

Healthy Cows

  The quarterly report of the Veterinary Inspector stated that 164 cows inspected were clinically normal and with few exceptions in good condition.

  The Inspector also submitted his annual report for 1933, which stated that with two exceptions the whole of the cows in the district were clinically normal and their condition specially good when bearing in mind the exceptionally dry summer and consequent shortage of water in many places.

  The Health Committee considered both reports very satisfactory.

Rating Appeals

  A report of the Finance Committee disclosed that appeals against assessments were to be heard on January 24^th.

  Mr. Allebone said it meant that those who were appealing against their assessments would be able to have their appeal heard at Rushden instead of having to go to Wellingborough.

Office Extension

  A sub-committee consisting of Mr. Allebone, Mr. Spencer, and the Acting Clerk was appointed to consider, with power to act, the equipping and furnishing of the new office accommodation at the Council Buildings.

Guardians Re-appointed

  Without discussion the three retiring representatives on the Guardians Committee were re-appointed.

Members Present

  Members in attendance were Messrs. John Spencer, J.P. (in the chair), C. W. Horrell, C.A. (vice-chairman), T. F. B. Newberry, W. C. Tarry, F. Green, A. Allebone, C.C., J. Roe, J. Allen, W. E. Capon, L. Perkins, M.B.E., A. Wilmott, G. W. Coles, J.P., J. T. Richardson and J. Hornsby.  The Chairman mentioned that Mr. L. Tysoe was indisposed, and expressed the hope that he would soon be restored to full health.