Allotments Committee

A meeting of the Allotments Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 18th February, 1920, when there were present – Messrs. J. Spencer (chairman), J. Claridge, J. S. Clipson, J. Hornsby, T. Swindall, L. Baxter, and W. Gutteridge.

Land for Allotments

A letter was received from Mr. John Clark regretting that he was unable to see his way to let five acres of his land near the Sewage Farm for allotment purposes.

War-Time Allotments

Applications were received from a large number of cultivators of war allotments asking the Council to arrange for their continuing in occupation for a further period of two years and agreeing to pay a fair rental for the land occupied. The applications were considered and the amounts of the rents suggested. The Clerk was instructed to give notice to the owners where known that the land would be required for a further two years and intimate to them the amount of the rent suggested by the Committee.

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 25th February, 1920, when there were present – Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), J. Claridge, W. Bazeley, L. Perkins, J. Spencer T. Swindall.

Plans

were presented for:-

A bungalow on the Court Estate for Mr. J. L. Wallis and passed.

Workshop in Upper Queen-street for Mr. Enos Wooding and no exception taken.

Coach-house off the Wellingborough-road for Mr. John Harris and passed.

Motor house in Trafford-road for Mr. H. Ingle and passed.

Alterations to warehouse in Windmill-road for the Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society and passed.

Motor Engineering Works for the Wargate Engineering Co. off the Wellingborough-road and no exception taken provided that satisfactory tie rods be provided for the roof.

Club House off the High-street for the West End Club and no exception taken provided the Club satisfy the Surveyor as to the floor and exit at the rear.

Alterations to Nos. 27 and 29, High-street, for Messrs. Boots, Limited, and passed subject to drainage arrangements being provided to the satisfaction of the Surveyor.

Shed off the Newton-road for Messrs. Wadsworth Bros. and no exception taken.

Cycle Sheds

Permission was given in a number of cases for the erection of small cycle sheds.

Road Classification

The Chairman reported that he, with the Surveyor, attended a conference at Northampton on Saturday, the 21st February, convened by the County Surveyor.

It was resolved to recommend the Council to ask that the two Main roads and also the road from the Grange Farm to the Church be classified as first class roads and the roads from Knuston Spinney to Higham-road, the Hayway and the Wymington-road be classified as second class roads.

The County Surveyor informed the deputation that a census of traffic would be required on two occasions, the cost of which the Surveyor estimated at £115. The Committee felt that this was a needless and extravagant expenditure, but, having regard to the fact that the application for classification would be useless without it, instructed the Surveyor to take the necessary steps for the first census to be made next month.

Road Materials

The Surveyor was instructed to obtain prices from the various firms at present supplying the Council for supplies during the ensuing year.

Day-Work Carting

The Surveyor was also authorised to arrange with the local carters for occasional work as required.

Collection of Tins

It was also resolved that the present arrangement be continued.

Tar Boiler

The Surveyor was authorised to have the tar boiler re-lined at an estimated cost of £14.

Road Motor Signs

The Surveyor reported that he had arranged with the Automobile Association for the fixing of five motor signs on the outskirts of the town.

Higham-Road

The Surveyor submitted a letter from the Sectional Engineer of the Post Office Telegraphs Department asking permission to trim the foliage of the trees on this road which at present interfered with the wires. He was instructed to reply that before anything was done the Highways Committee would like the Engineer to meet him on the site and inspect the trees. The Surveyor was authorised to agree to a slight lopping of such of the trees as were at present growing into the wires under protest and instructed to inform the Engineer that the Committee would strongly object to any further wires being put on the poles so as to interfere with the trees.

The report was adopted.

The Chairman, referring to the proposed lopping of the trees by the telegraph authorities, said that the Council had been trying to beautify the town with trees, and if the Telegraphs Department’s suggestions were carried out it would mean practically removing all the trees on one side of Higham-road.

Finance and Estates Committee

A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 3rd March, 1920, at 10 a.m., when there were present – Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), C. C. Bayes, C. Bates, J. Hornsby, C. W. Horrell, and J. Tomlin.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

The Committee examined the Surveyor’s cash account with the wages book, 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 since the last meeting:-

And that the following balances were in hand:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts amounting to £2789 2s. 6d. were examined and passed for payment.

Special Committee

It was resolved to have a special Committee meeting on the 24th instant to clear up the accounts for the current year and to fix the rate for the ensuing half year.

The report was adopted.

Council in Committee

A meeting of the whole Council in Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 3rd March, 1920, when there were present :- Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), John Claridge, C. E. Bayes, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, J. Hornsby, C. W. Horrell, J. Spencer, T. Swindall, J. Tomlin and T. Wilmott.

The Chairman reported that 54 applications had been received for the appointment of Inspector of Nuisances, &c., from which he and the Vice-Chairman had made a selection of six. The Committee carefully considered these applications and ultimately resolved to interview the following at a special meeting to be held on Wednesday next, at 2.30 p.m.:-

Higham Road

The Surveyor reported that he had written to the Sectional Engineer of the Post Office Telegraphs as instructed by the Highways Committee but had received no reply. A gang of men had, however, arrived in Rushden early in the week with instructions to prune the trees, and on his interviewing them was informed that they would require to remove practically the whole of the heads of at least 24 trees. He had told the foreman that he could not agree to this, and the work had been postponed for the present.

The Committee felt strongly that such a drastic action should not be allowed and instructed the Clerk to make representations to the Postmaster General on the subject.

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 3rd March, 1920, when there were present :- Messrs. J. Claridge (chairman), Fred Knight, C. Bates, C. E. Bayes, J. Hornsby, C. W. Horrell, and John Tomlin.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The report of the Medical Officer of Health for the month of February was received.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that 27 preliminary notices had been issued since the last meeting calling attention to nuisances, &c., all of which were receiving attention.

One lot of infected bedding had been destroyed and the room cleansed upon the advice of the Medical Practitioner in attendance owing to a case of consumption having proved fatal.

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

During the month the carcass of a pig affected with Tuberculosis that had been voluntarily surrendered had been destroyed in the usual way as being unfit for human consumption.

Yard paving in various parts of the town had been repaired or renewed during the month.

The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his work since the last meeting.

Factory Acts

The Sanitary Inspector also reported that during the month of February 16 additional lists had been received relating to 31 outworkers receiving work inside the district and nine receiving work outside the district.

Knackers’ Yard

An application was received from Messrs. G. Chettle& Son for a renewal of their licence in respect of their premises on the Newton-road and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto.

Public Conveniences

The Surveyor submitted plans for lavatory accommodation for both sexes at the north-west corner of the Green at an estimated cost of £1,750.

The Committee felt some hesitation in recommending the Council to incur such heavy expenditure for this purpose at the present time, but ultimately resolved, having regard to their instructions from the Council, to recommend that the plans be adopted and that application be made to the Ministry of Health for sanction to a loan to cover the expenses.

In introducing the report of the committee Mr. Claridge (chairman) said the cost of the conveniences was much higher than was anticipated, but it was not likely to be any lower in the immediate future. He moved that the recommendation be adopted.

Mr. Bazeley seconded, and said it reflected upon the Council that the provision had not been made earlier.

Mr. Swindall contended that the plan should be brought before the Plans Committee. He proposed that the question be referred back for a month so that the plans could be considered by the Plans Committee. He should not vote for an expenditure of £1,750 when he did not know what it was for.

Mr. Wilmott seconded and said the plans had never been before the Council.

The motion was carried, the voting being : For the amendment, Messrs. Knight, Claridge, Swindall, Perkins, Bayes, Tomlin, and Wilmott : against, Messrs. Spencer, Bates, and Bazeley.

The rest of the report was adopted.

Appointments

On the recommendation of the Sanitary Committee, Mr. Piper, of Kettering, was appointed Sanitary Inspector at a salary of £250 a year.

Messrs. J. Claridge, L. Baxter, J. T. Colson, and B. Ladds were re-elected overseers.

Delay

Mr. Spencer said that complaints were being made about the delay in collecting the refuse.

Cenotaph

A letter was received from Mr. A. F. Weale asking for a room at the Council Buildings for the committee appointed to provide a cenotaph in memory of the men killed in the war.

Mr. Bates said this proposal was in opposition to the war memorial scheme for a cottage hospital, already decided upon.

Mr. Perkins said there was no idea of opposing the other scheme. The cenotaph would be a memorial to the fallen; a cottage hospital would be a memorial of the greatest war in history. If they could find a village where there was not a single war victim it would be quite right for them to have a war memorial, but not a cenotaph. The cost of the cenotaph would be so small that it could not interfere with the other scheme.

Mr. Bazeley moved that the application for a room be granted, but he felt the movement was one to “side-track” the cottage hospital scheme.

Mr. Spencer seconded, but suggested it would be better for the supporters of the cenotaph to work with the other committee.

Railway Fares

Mr. F. H. Pridmore, on behalf of the United Working Men’s Clubs Blind and Crippled Children Association, wrote stating that his committee considered that the excessive railway fares caused great hardship to the outpatients at Northampton and other hospitals, and asking the Council to press upon the railway authorities that provision should be made for bona-fide patients to hospitals to travel at a reduced rate.

On the proposition of Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mr. Claridge, supported by Mr. Perkins, this was agreed to.

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This, Mr. Mason said, left £14,549/14/1 to be provided by the Council. The rateable value was £39,250/4/3, and a 1/- rate, less irrecoverable arrears, would produce £1,925. The Finance Committee suggested the levying of a rate of 7/4 in the £, (3/8 each half-year), which would produce £14,116/13/4, leaving a debit balance of £133/0/9. They wanted to keep down expenditure, and the committee believed they could meet requirements and hoped that the estimated expenditure would not be exceeded. On the other hand, they had every reason to believe that, with increased assessments, receipts might be above the amount estimated by something near £400. There was no possible hope that next year the rate would be any less, but rather higher. There would be the same amount of money to provide plus £1,500 realisable this year from the War Loan investment.

Mr. Knight said it would be necessary to be as economical as possible so that they did not exceed the expenditure allowed for.

Mr. Bates: I understand that the increase in the rates is 2/4?

The Clerk: Yes; it is recommended to be 7/4, against 5/- last year.

Mr. Bates: What would that amount to with tenants who pay rates in accordance with rents?

The Clerk: For the half-year ending Sept., 1914, the Poor Rate was 2/-. This coming half-year it will be 4/6. The pre-war District rate was 2/6. The Finance Committee propose this half-year 3/8. The total of the two pre-war rates was 4/6. The new rates that will be chargeable if the 7/4 rate is passed will be on the following scale:-