New Factory to be Erected
Footpath Obstruction by Tradesmen

  A meeting of this Council was held on Wednesday night, when there were present: Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman), G. H. Skinner (vice-chairman), G. Miller, F. Ballard, C. E. Bayes, J. Paragreen, C. Bates, F. Knight, J. Claridge, J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, and A. J. Dobbs, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. W. G. F. Kingston).

Plans, &c., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 20^th May, 1908, when there were present:- Messrs. W. Bazeley, G. H. Skinner, J. Claridge, J. S. Clipson, A. J. Dobbs, F. Knight, and T. Swindall.

Election of Chairman

  It was unanimously resolved that Mr. Bazeley be elected Chairman of this Committee for the ensuing year.

Election of Sub-Committee

  The following Sub-Committee was appointed:-

  Lighting and Fire Brigade:- Messrs. Bazeley, Dobbs, Clipson, and Claridge.

Road Materials – Granite

  Tenders for the supply of granite for the current year were considered and the Surveyor was instructed to place his orders as follows:                                                                                        

Slag

  Tenders for the supply of the slag were also received and the Surveyor instructed to place orders for about 600 tons in quantities as required from the following firms at the respective prices quoted by them, viz:-

  Kettering Iron Co.: - Unbroken 3/6; Spoutings 5/6; 2¼” 5/6; 2” 5/6; 1¾” 5/6; 1½” 5/6; 1” 5/6; ½” 5/0.

  Wellingborough Iron Co.:- Unbroken 4/0; Spoutings 5/3; 2¼” 5/3; 2” 5/3; 1¾” 5/3; 1½” 5/3; 1” 4/0. ½” 3/9.

Thos. Butlin and Co.:- Unbroken 3/6; Spoutings 5/0; 2¼” 5/0; 2” 5/0; 1¾” 5/0; 1½” 5/0; 1” 4/0; ½” 4/0.

Team Labour

  Tenders for carting road metal to the various places where required were received and the Committee recommended that those of Messrs. Wilmott, Groome, Sharp, and Packwood be accepted.

  Mr. Bates asked if one of the contractors for team labour was paying the same wages as the others.

  The Chairman could not say, but the tenders were considered on their merits.

  Mr. Dobbs could not see how any of the contractors could pay fair wages at the prices at which they tendered.

  Mr. Paragreen was sorry to see the work go out of the town.  There were plenty of people in Rushden who wanted work and he would favour giving it to their own townspeople rather than send it to Irchester.

  The Chairman said they could not consider that after asking Mr. Sharp to tender.  It was for the Council another time to decide who should tender.

  The report was adopted.

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday the 27^th May, 1908, when there were present:- Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman), G. H. Skinner, J. S. Clipson, J. Claridge, A. J. Dobbs, F. Knight, and T. Swindall.

Plans

were presented by:-

  Mr. Thomas Willmott for a house on the Newton-road and passed.

Main Roads Footpaths

  The Surveyor presented his estimates of the cost of reconstructing with an indurated pavement the footpaths at Church Parade, in front of the Coffee Tavern, in front of Mr. J. F. Knight’s shops and opposite the Capital and Counties Bank, and also providing at these places granite kerb and channelling where required, amounting altogether to £164/15/9 towards which it was estimated the County Council would contribute approximately £113/12/10.

  It was resolved that the Surveyor be instructed to submit the estimate and proposals to the County Surveyor and to commence the work immediately on receipt of his sanction thereto.

  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 3^rd June, 1908, at 10 a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman) and J. Claridge.

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 Fittings Accounts

  The committee examined the Collector’s fittings accounts from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums during the past two months:-

Cemetery Registrar’s Account

  From the Cemetery Registrar’s Account produced it appeared that the following sum had been paid to him during the past two months:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

  The Committee also examined the Treasurer’s accounts from which it appeared that the following sums had been paid to him during the past two months:-

  And that the following balances were in hand on the undermentioned accounts:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 3^rd June, 1908, at 7 p.m., when there were present:- Messrs. G. H. Skinner (chairman), W. Bazeley, F Ballard, C. Bates, C. E. Bayes, G. Miller, and J. Paragreen.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The Medical Officer reported that one case of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz.:- of scarlet fever in Washbrook-road.  In the absence of an Inspector he had visited the house and given all necessary instructions.  Disinfectants had been supplied and the head teacher of the school which the child attended had been notified.  The Surveyor also reported that he had visited the house and inspected the drains which he had found in order.

Notification of Births Act, 1907

  A letter was received from the Local Government Board stating that after communicating with the Northants County Council with reference to the employment in Rushden of the lady health visitor at present employed by that Council and the satisfactory arrangements which had been made, the Local Government Board were now prepared to consent to the adoption of the Act within the Urban District of Rushden.  The Board would, however, rely on the District Council in the event of the services of the County Health Visitor being withdrawn, making adequate arrangements for carrying out the work contemplated under the Act either by themselves appointing a Health Visitor or by making such an appointment in conjunction with neighbouring authorities.

  The Committee felt unable to recommend the Council at the present time to give any assurance of this nature and under the circumstances thought it desirable to postpone the matter for six months with a view to seeing what further arrangements the County Council were likely to make with regard to the continued services of a Health Visitor and resolved to recommend the Council accordingly.

Inspector of Nuisances

  A letter was received from the Local Government Board with regard to the appointment of an Inspector of Nuisances, informing the Council that if the Inspector is required to undertake the duties of Inspector under the Petroleum Acts a separate salary must be assigned to him in respect of those duties.  The Clerk informed the Committee that he had acknowledged the receipt of this letter and had informed the Local Government Board that under the circumstances the Council would no doubt be able to make arrangements whereby this work could be undertaken by another Officer.

  The Committee approved and resolved to recommend the Council to appoint the Assistant Surveyor, Mr. Edwin Madin, Inspector under the Petroleum Acts.

Sewage Farm

  The Surveyor reported that the Farm Sub-Committee had met and given instructions for the sale of the grass crops by auction on the 22^nd June.

  The Committee approved.

Cemetery

  It was resolved not to sell the grass on the surplus land by auction this year but to accept Mr. F. Collins as tenant up to the end of the year at a rent of £2/10/0.

  It was also resolved that the caretaker be authorised to sell the four beds of grass in the recently laid out part of the Cemetery for £2.

Hospital Land

  The Surveyor was authorised to let this land upon the best terms obtainable to the 31^st March next.

Royal Sanitary Institute

  A circular from this Institute was received intimating that the annual meeting would be held at Cardiff on the 19^th July next and inviting the Council to send representation.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to authorise the Surveyor to attend on their behalf.

Footpath Obstruction

  A letter was received from Messrs. J. T. Parker and Son asking the Council to reconsider their decision as to allowing Messrs. Wooding Brothers to place a board outside their shop on Saturdays for the purpose of displaying goods.

  The Committee felt unable to recommend the Council to depart from the decision previously arrived at.

Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907

  A letter was received from the Local Government Board approving of the proposed advertisement and resolution with regard to the adoption of certain parts of this Act and giving instructions as to the publication of the advertisement.

  The Clerk was instructed to publish the advertisement forthwith.

Franklin’s Ground

  A letter addressed to the Sanitary Inspector by Messrs. Cave Brothers with regard to the nuisance caused to their tenants in Finsbury Place by the Shows, etc. in this ground was submitted to the Committee.  It was reported that the Sanitary Inspector had made repeated visits to the shows during the time they were on the ground but was unable to find any nuisance under the Public Health Acts in respect of which he could take action and the Committee were informed that they had no power to deal with nuisances other than those under the Sanitary Acts.

  Mr. Claridge, referring to the paragraph in the report relating to footpath obstruction, thought that if Mr. Wooding’s board did not cause inconvenience to the public the Council might do what they could to encourage a tradesman to do a little business.  Mr. Denton’s steps next door projected about 18 inches and he did not see that a narrow board from the steps to the doorway of the shop would be objectionable.

  Mr. Ballard said they should not allow one tradesman to do what they would not allow in the case of others.  The committee considered the matter from the point of view of the safety of the public, and they also thought that the sweets displayed were a temptation to children.

  The Chairman said Mr. Wooding felt sore on the subject, seeing that other tradesmen set out their goods.  Mr. Wooding sold sweets outside his shop for years while manager for Mr. Denton, but now he was in business on his own account he was debarred.  He assured Mr. Wooding that the committee did not wish to act unfairly towards him, but only had regard to the protection of the public.

  Mr. Ballard said he understood that several tradesmen owned a little strip of land in front of their shops, and had therefore a right to set out their goods.  If Mr. Wooding had such a right, by all means let him set out his goods, but it would be dangerous all the same to pedestrians who had to step into the road, when there were so many motor-cars and other vehicles about.

  Mr. Claridge:  Have the committee viewed the site?

  Mr. Ballard: Yes.

  Mr. Miller proposed that the matter be referred back to the committee for further consideration.  He could sympathise with a fellow tradesman, and he knew from experience the value of having a piece of land in front of his shop for the display of goods.  In these hard times he thought they should make things as easy as they could for tradesmen, if there was no obstruction.  It had been the custom to display goods outside Mr. Wooding’s shop as long as he (Mr. Miller) had been in Rushden.

  Mr. Claridge seconded the motion.

  Mr. Ballard asked whether, in referring the matter back, it was intended to ascertain whether Mr. Wooding had the right to display goods or whether it was proposed to grant him a privilege they had refused to others.

  The Chairman said the committee had the matter before them on a previous occasion.  The board displaying the goods was not the difficulty, but the people stopping to look at the sweets, etc., thus causing others to step into the road, which was dangerous.  It would not be fair to stop Mr. Wooding without stopping others.

  The motion to refer the matter back was carried by six votes to three, and the remainder of the report was adopted.

A New Factory

  It was reported that at a meeting of the Plans Committee held just before the Council meeting plans were presented by Messrs. Knight and Brightwell for a new factory in York-road, on the site of the one burnt down while in the occupation of Messrs. Ellard.  The plans were passed, subject to the drainage being completed to the satisfaction of the Surveyor and the old walls being pulled down to the level of the sills of the bottom windows.

  Mr. Bayes questioned whether it was necessary to pull down the walls so far.

  The Chairman said the committee had considered the matter and decided on the point of safety.  The additional expense in the building would be small.

  The report was adopted.

The Disbanded Volunteer Company

  In reply to a protest from the Council against the disbanding of the Rushden Company of Volunteers, a letter was received from the Army Council stating that the distribution of the units of the Territorial Forces was entirely a matter for the County Association.  The Army Council could not interfere and it was suggested that all communications on the subject should be sent to the County Association.

Railway Extension To Raunds

  At the last meeting of the Council it was decided to ask the directors of the Midland Railway Company to consider the question of extending the Wellingborough to Higham Branch of their line to Raunds, as provided for originally.  A letter was read in reply acknowledging the receipt of the letter from the Council and promising a further reply shortly.

The Treasurership

  A letter was received from Mrs. Ashdowne, wife of the late treasurer, thanking the Council for their expressions of sympathy in regard to Mr. Ashdowne’s compulsory resignation.

  Letters were also received from Mr. Heygate, the Union Bank, Rushden, and Mr. Page, general manager of the Union Banking Co., thanking the Council for appointing Mr. Heygate treasurer.

Workers’ Educational Association

  The Clerk said he had been informed by Mr. Cross that Mr. Mansbridge, the general secretary of the Workers’ Educational Association, would be able to address a meeting at Rushden on June 29.

  It was decided to have bills printed calling a town’s meeting on the date mentioned.