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| The Rushden Echo & Argus, March, 1945, transcribed by Gill Hollis |
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Rushden Urban District Council
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16th March, 1945 Rushden’s Temporary Houses Still another lay-out plan for proposed temporary houses off Park-road and Pyghtles-terrace, Rushden, was exhibited for approval or otherwise in the council chamber when the members of the Council met on Wednesday. This was a compromise between the Council’s objections to cul-de-sacs, and the Ministry’s requirement of providing a southerly aspect. The plan showed one line of houses set each at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the boundary (saw-edge fashion). This was approved and is now to be sent for final approval. The Clerk was also instructed to inquire of the local gas and electricity supply companies about the supply to the proposed temporary houses of cookers, refrigerators and wash boilers, and report at the next meeting. Rushden Hall being no longer required by the military, the housing committee reported that the Deputy Senior Regional Officer of the Ministry of Health had written to ask whether the Council would consider the premises as suitable for additional housing accommodation. The Clerk had already replied that he was quite sure the Council would not consider the Hall suitable for such a purpose, particularly as it was situated in grounds purchased for and used as a public park. The committee had confirmed the action of the Clerk. The Parks committee had also approved the Clerk’s letter. Rushden Swimming Club, with a view to arranging a programme of tuition for junior members, applied for the use of the swimming bath in the 1945 season, one day a week from 6.0 to 9.30 p.m., instead of two evenings a week from 8.0 to 9.0 p.m., as last year. The Parks and Bath Committee, stating that the public should not be excluded for a whole evening, recommended, as a concession, that the swimming club be offered the use of the bath from 7.0 to 9.30 p.m. This was endorsed by the Council. Rushden’s British Restaurant has received a visit from a lady inspector from the Ministry of Food (Mrs. M. C. Brown), who reported to the Divisional Food Office that the meal she had at the restaurant was very satisfactory, nicely prepared and cooked. This was reported to the council by the War Emergency Committee. The report also showed that since the restaurant was opened the daily average number of main meals served was 230, and the average daily takings £12 19s. 9d. No Out-Town Meals An application had been received from the Drage Shoe Co., Bozeat, for the supply of an average of 20 meals a day, the firm to supply its own transport and containers. It was also understood that two other firms would probably wish to participate, bringing the total meals a day to 50 or 60. The supervisor at the restaurant felt that such extra service would adversely affect the service to Rushden customers, and consequently the committee regretted they were unable to comply with the request. The committee proposed to close the restaurant for Easter from Saturday, March 31st to the following Wednesday. The report was adopted. The Highways Committee reported that the Surveyor had been instructed to approach the Military authorities regarding the condition of the carriageway of Blinco-road. That a representative had met the Surveyor on the site and that a communication from the authorities was now awaited. Coun. E. A. Sugars said he hoped that even if the Military were not able to do anything about the matter, the Council would do something because last winter, what had become a general nuisance had got still worse. Vehicles using Blinco-road carried a wonderful amount of dirt into Cromwell-road. The inhabitants told him they would like even a good path if they could not have the road made. In reply to Coun. W. E. Capon it was stated that the road had not been taken over by the Council. Coun. J. George, chairman of the Highways Committee, said he was hopeful that the Military would help to some extent as they had used the road and the Surveyor said he also was hopeful. Abattoir Refuse: A Danger? Refuse from the Government controlled slaughterhouse off the Bedford-road (owned by the Rushden Co-operative Society) was the subject of a recommendation by the Health and Sanitary Committee. The Northants Utility By-Products Co., Ltd. (users of the slaughter-house) wrote stating that they had great difficulty in removing the butchers’ refuse and manure as no provision for its disposal existed at the premises. Also the company had not been able to find any local farmer willing to use it on his land. The company therefore asked the assistance of the Council in the matter. The committee recommended that for an experimental period of three months, subject to earlier termination if the Council wished, the company be allowed to deposit the refuse and manure at the Council’s tip in Bedford-road, subject to conditions which the Council might think necessary, and that the company pay at the rate of one shilling a load for refuse deposited by them. Coun. Sugars said he was afraid that unless every care were taken the refuse might harbour rodents. He hoped the place would not be allowed to become a general nuisance as it might unless the ground were well covered after each deposit. Coun. A. H. Bailey, chairman of the Health and Sanitary Committee said he agreed, and assured Mr. Sugars that the committee had the point very much in mind. Not only were the committee aware that deep coverage would be necessary, but arrangements were being made for supervision at the tip. In response to the invitation from the Irthlingborough Urban Council for representatives to meet and consider the position locally regarding the failure to start a Divisional Executive for education, the Council appointed as delegates Couns. A. Allebone, W. E. Capon, T. W. Cox, F. Green, E. A. Sugars, J. Allen and Mrs. A. U. Muxlow. Members present: The Chairman Dr. R. W. Davies; the vice-chairman, Coun. H. Waring; Couns. A. Allebone, J.P., C.A., J. Allen, A. H. Bailey, W. E. Capon, T. W. Cox, J. E. Dilks, J. George, F. Green, J.P., Mrs. A. U. Muxlow, J. H. Paragreen, J. T. Richardson, J.P., J. Roe, C.C., W. J. Sawford, E. A. Sugars, and A. F. Weale, with the Clerk (Mr. T. L. Watts, LL.B.), the Surveyor (Mr. J. W. Lloyd) and the Chief Financial Officer (Mr. B. W. Williams). |
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23rd March, 1945 Record Increase on Rushden Rates A record rate increase of 3s. 4d. – from 12s. 10d. to 16s. 2d. in the £ - was the outcome of Rushden Urban Council’s Financial meeting on Wednesday. The budget speech was made by Coun. J. T. Richardson and contained no surprises. In his introduction Mr. Richardson referred to the purchase of housing sites, provision made for the resumption of normal lighting and the increased costs which abounded. Twelve months ago the Council had a Rate Fund balance of £7,355. Through underspending (£420) and a saving of £114 arising from increased rateable value they now had an additional £534, which they proposed to utilise. The County Council called for a rate of 11s. 10d., - or an increase of 2s. 9¾d., and the Water Board required £1,613, or 4.68d. in the £ - an increase of 1.64d. The Council itself proposed to spend £25,657, against £23,078 estimated last year – an increase of £2,579. Allowing for the Exchequer de-rating grant of £9,995, the deduction of £594 from the balances and discounts of £1,175, the net Council requirement was £16,243, against £14,126 last year, of 3s. 11.08d. against 3s. 4.94d. Committee calls were: Highways £6,800 (increase £280), Health £6,637 (£615), Library £1,264 (£96), Parks £2,654 (£105), Housing £4,409 (£911), Finance £3,893 (£572). Altogether, outside authorities wanted £51,138, or 12s. 2.92d. in the £ - a net increase of 2s. 9.86d. Adding the Council’s needs, the sum required was £68,761, or 16s. 2d. in the £ - an increase of 3s. 4d. Cost of Sites Mr. Richardson said the items chiefly responsible for the Council’s increase were loan charges on post-war housing sites £812) and a contingency allowance for public lighting (£400). Increased wages and administrative expenses were allowed for, a reduction was estimated in salvage income, and a reduction in income from crops, as no cultivation would be carried out this year at the sewage farm or the spare land at the cemetery. Costs of materials continued to rise, and unless considerable Government assistance was forthcoming in the post-war years it was anticipated that rates all over the country would show very steep increases. Recent Government announcements, however, gave a ray of hope, and the Local Authorities Loans Bill provided that for a certain period after the war local authorities should borrow only through the Public Works Loan Board at rates of interest from 2 to 3⅛ per cent. This should prevent the scramble for money, which followed the last war, when interest rates were as high as 6 per cent. There was also a promise that the revision of block grants would take place as soon as possible. Work Deferred Mr. Richardson added: “If, however, local authorities are to retain local control, they must be willing to accept further burdens, and must not expect the Government to shoulder all additional expenditure.” The rateable value of the district was £87,288, or £5 5s. 4d. per head of the population, and the estimated product of the 1d. rate was £345. The loan debt for housing was £337,144 and for other purposes £16,139, a total of £353,283, or £21 6s. 2d. per head of the population. The Finance Committee reported that they had deleted from the estimates items of expenditure out of revenue in respect of road works in Avenue-road (which can be financed by way of loan if necessary) and proposed conveniences at the cemetery, which will not be carried out during the coming year. In reference to the deferment of schemes by two committees, Mr. Richardson said that in his opinion time was ripe for these things to be done, and he thought the public would have accepted and welcomed them. Boys and girls were carrying their lives in their hands for the sake of the country, and he believed the people at home would willingly have shouldered greater burdens. He believed the town was not only able but willing to make the sacrifice now called for. Hard On Some Coun. Weale said the committees had not undertaken expenditure lightly. In the next few years expenditure was going to be heavy, and he did not view the prospect of Government assistance as altogether encouraging, because the money, whether it came through the Government or the Council, came out of the same pocket every time. Mr. Weale added that he had every sympathy for small ratepayers who could not increase their income, and he felt it necessary to call attention to the hardship on these people. Big business people could face up to the demands quite easily, but it must be borne in mind that some people were in difficulties. Nevertheless, his view of the “Budget” was: “We could not have done better; it might very easily have been worse.” Coun. Dilks said they had to face the inevitable; his own surprise was that the increase was not greater. The Council could not be accused of extravagance, and he was convinced that not one penny was being wasted. Four Reasons Coun. Roe said the expenditure increases fell under four headings – County Council, Water Board, housing and Finance Committee. He quite agreed with Mr. Weale that the increase felt very hard on small owners of property who had no means of getting extra income, while boot manufacturers were subsidised to some extent. As to the Council’s balance, they had £7,355 in hand, and he thought that was quite sufficient. The Council adopted the report and agreed to levy a rate of 8s. 1d. in the £ for the first half of the year. Members in attendance were Couns. Dr. R. W. Davies (Chairman), H. Waring (Vice-Chairman), A. H. Bailey, J. Roe, C.C., T. W. Cox, F. Green, J.P., Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, W. E. Capon, A. F. Weale, J. George, T. J. Swindall, J. E. Dilks, J. H. J. Paragreen, W. J. Sawford, E. A. Sugars and J. T. Richardson, J.P. |
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