The Chairman’s Bereavement

In taking the chair, Mr. Wilmott said they all knew, he thought, the cause of the Chairman’s absence, and he was sure they all sympathised deeply with him and his family.

Plans, Etc., Committee

A meeting of the plans, Highways and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 31st May, 1916, when there were present:- Messrs. J. Spencer (chairman), T. Wilmott, W. Bazeley, F. Knight, J. S. Clipson, J. Hyde and T. Swindall.

Plans

were presented by:-

The Industrial Co-op Society for temporary shed for coke store on their Newton-road premises, and no exception taken.

Mr. A. Lilley for engine house to his factory off Beech-road, and passed.

The Tecnic Boot Co., Ltd., for addition to their factory in Harborough-road, and passed.

Messrs. Wm. Claridge for sanitary convenience to their factory on the Wellingborough-road, and passed subject to the walls being half brick in cement and cross ventilation provided.

Mr. Wm. Fisher for barn and pigsties in Rushden Court Avenue, and passed.

New Premises for British United Machinery Co.

A letter was received from Mr. W. G. Wilmott, requesting permission to put up some small Louvre windows in the four gables of this building overlooking the Council’s store yard in Midland-road, and undertaking, if permission be given, to block them up at any time at the request of the Council.

It was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the application and to accept Mr. Wilmott’s undertaking, Mr. Wilmott, in addition to pay a nominal quit rent of 6d per annum for the right of light.

Wellingborough-Road

In view of the repairs about to be undertaken on this road, the Committee thought it desirable that the horse tramway laid by Mr. John Clark across the road be removed before the work of that portion was carried out, and the Surveyor was accordingly instructed to ask Mr. Clark to authorise the necessary work of removing both rails and setts, at his expense.

Road Material

The Surveyor submitted a letter from the County Surveyor, approving the Council’s action with regard to the purchase of road materials for the main roads.

Team Labour. – The Surveyor submitted a letter from Mr. W. G. Wilmott, with reference to the acceptance of his tender for the ensuing year, stating that he would be unable to undertake the work except on the understanding that no liability would rest on him, as the contractor, for the demurrage on railway waggons.

The Committee agreed to this so long as Mr. Wilmott exercised reasonable care in emptying the waggons as soon as possible after their arrival.

Rectory Estate Roads

A letter was received from Messrs. Skinner and Miller stating that the contractor had informed them that he was unable to procure the slag material necessary to complete the roads, and had suggested that the paths be all completed forthwith and the roads afterwards, when the material can be obtained.

The Committee did not consider the proposal a good one, but under the circumstances agreed to recommend the Council to accede to it, subject to Messrs. Skinner and Miller giving an undertaking to make good any damage done to the channels, kerbs, and paving by the subsequent use of the steam roller on the roads.

Council Houses

It was resolved to meet on the site before the next meeting of the Committee and consider the question of planting some trees in the street and provide barns for the Class A type.

Pratt-Road

The surveyor reported that he had completed the work in connection with the storm water drain in this road, including the provision of manholes, at a total cost of £28/2/7.

New Building Bye-Laws

The attention of the Committee was called to the draft bye-laws which had been returned by the Local Government Board for further consideration, and it was resolved to postpone the matter until the close of the war.

Field Footpaths

Attention was called to the obstruction on the field footpath from Higham-road to Chelveston by the defective state of the wire fencing. The Surveyor was instructed to inspect the site and call upon the owner to remove the obstruction forthwith.

The report was adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Tuesday, the 6th June, 1916, at 10 a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. T. Wilmott (in the chair), J. Spencer, J. Claridge, and Fred Knight.

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:-

The Committee examined the Surveyor’s cash account with the wages books, the expenditure shown therein being as follows:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts amounting to £1776/1/2 were examined and passed for payment.

Collector

An application was received from Mr. Woodward for an increase of salary and deferred until the next meeting.

Local Government (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1916

The Clerk submitted a circular from the Local Government Board, drawing attention to this act. The principal points mentioned were:-

(a) The provisions made as to officers of local authorities in naval or military service.

(b) The reduction of the fee payable in respect of the notification of infectious disease from 2/6 to 1/0.

(c) The provisions as to audit, that the District Auditor would in future make his report direct to the Local Government Board and not to the Council, and that it would no longer necessary to publish an abstract of the accounts in the local newspapers.

(d) Prohibition of the establishment of new omnibus routes except with the consent of the local authority liable for the maintenance of the roads.

New Sewage Works, Excess Loan £240

The Clerk was instructed to negotiate this loan, locally if possible.

The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 7th June, 1916, when there were present: - Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), J. Claridge, and G. H. Skinner.

Health and Sanitary Reports

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

During the month he had, in company with the Inspector of Nuisances, visited and inspected three houses in Little-street, which he found in a defective and insanitary condition. The Chairman and Mr. Claridge were appointed to meet the owner on the site with a view to the necessary repairs being carried out.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the month of May, 28 preliminary notices had been issued calling attention to nuisances and other matters, all of which were receiving attention.

Three lots of bedding had been destroyed after death from consumption, on the advice of the medical practitioners in attendance. It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace part of the bedding destroyed at a cost not exceeding £1/5/0 in each case.

A book belonging to the Free Library found in an infected house had also been destroyed. It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace the book.

The Inspector also reported that he had visited the house No. 14, Little-street, which he found in an overcrowded state, thereby creating a nuisance. It was resolved to recommend the Council to serve notice on the occupier requiring him to abate the nuisance forthwith.

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

Refuse Receptacles

The Inspector also reported that the notice served upon the owners of No’s, 14, 15, 16, and 17, Gordon-terrace, to provide suitable and proper receptacles for the deposit of refuse, had not been complied with. It was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Inspector to provide for each house a portable galvanised ashbin with a tight fitting lid, and to take the necessary steps to recover, in a summary manner, the expenses incurred in so doing, if the notice be not complied with by Saturday the 17th instant.

Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order

The Inspector also reported that he had visited and inspected the whole of the dairies and cowsheds in the district during the past month and in several cases found that the premises required cleaning and lime washing.

It was resolved to recommend the Council to serve a notice on the various occupiers requiring them to cleanse and lime wash their premises forthwith.

Mowing Grass

Tenders were received for the mowing of grass at the Cemetery field and Sewage farm and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accept those of Messrs. F. Collins at £5/10/0 and A. Packwood £5 respectively, the highest.

Tuberculosis Regulations, 1916

The clerk submitted a circular letter and order from the Local Government Board by which Medical Officers of Health are required to furnish to the Army council particulars of all persons between certain specified ages who had been notified since the 1st February, 1913, as suffering from tuberculosis.

The Medical Officer stated that the necessary return for this district was being made.

The report was adopted.

Petty Sessions Wanted

A letter was received from Mr. A. J. Parker, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, enclosing a copy of a resolution, asking the Urban Council to take the necessary steps to secure the holding of Petty Sessions for Rushden at the earliest opportunity. It was also stated that immediate cause of the passing of the resolution was the expense people were put to who had to attend the Petty Sessions at Wellingborough in consequence of the Lighting Order.

The Clerk said he wrote in reply to the letter, pointing out that the Council had been for many years in full sympathy with the object of the resolution, and had on several occasions approached the Standing Joint Committee without success. He was afraid that it was useless to press the matter further at the present time, but their letter should be laid before the Council.

Mr. Claridge: I think, according to a report in the paper, that they were perfectly satisfied with your letter.

The Clerk: I don’t think it would be wise to apply again at the present time, especially in view of the additional labour involved if the change were made.

On the motion of Mr. Swindall, the action of the Clerk was confirmed.