At a meeting of the Council on Wednesday night there were present Messrs. F. Ballard, J.P. (chairman), W. Bazeley (vice-chairman), F. Knight, J.P., J. Claridge, J.P., C.C., G. H. Skinner, G. Miller, C.C., C. E. Bayes, J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, J. Paragreen, C. Bates, and A. J. Dobbs, with the clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the surveyor (Mr. Madin), and the sanitary inspector (Mr. Hunter).

Plans, &c. Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 30^th October, 1907, when there were present:- Messrs. F. Ballard (chairman), W. Bazeley, J. S. Clipson, C. E. Bayes, A. J. Dobbs, and G. Miller.

Plans

were presented by:-

  Mr. Walter Smart for workshop at the rear of No. 87, Park-road, and passed.

  Messrs. Sanders for coal shed at their factory in Duck-street and passed.

Newton Gap

  The Surveyor reported that the hedge at the corner of Newton-road and Tomlin’s-lane had been removed and he now recommended that he be authorised to pipe in the ditch for a distance of about 20 yards with 18 inch pipes.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to authorise the Surveyor to carry out the work at an estimated cost of £10.

Church-Street

  The Surveyor also reported that his attention had been called to a street gulley out of order and in a dangerous condition in this street and that he had had the same repaired.

  The Committee approved.

High-Street South Improvement - £450 Loan

  The Clerk reported the receipt from the Local Government Board of the notices for the enquiry with regard to this loan, to be held on Wednesday, the 6^th November, 1907.

Trees

  The Surveyor was instructed to re-plant the trees in the town where required.

  The report was adopted.

Finance Committee

  A meeting of the Finance Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 6^th November, 1907 at 10a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. F. Ballard (chairman), W. Bazeley, and Geo. Miller.

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 District Rate Account

  The Collector’s District Rate account was examined from which it appeared that he had collected the following sum since the last meeting:-

Collector’s Fittings Accounts

  The Committee also examined the Collector’s fittings account, from which it appeared that during the past two months he had collected the following sums:-

Cemetery Registrar’s Account

  The Cemetery Registrar’s account was also examined, from which it appeared that he had received the following sum since the September 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 balances on the under-mentioned accounts were as follows:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment.

  The report was adopted.

Estates, Cemetery and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Estates, Cemetery, and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 6^th November, 1907, when there were present:- Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman), F. Ballard, C. Bates, J. Paragreen, and T. Swindall.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The Medical Officer reported that only one case of infectious disease had been notified during the month, viz.: a case of enteric fever in Oswald-road.  The patient was convalescent.  The sanitary condition of the town was satisfactory.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that the owners of No. 60, 62, and 33, Harborough-road, had not complied with the Orders served upon them with regard to the drainage of the houses.  The Committee agreed to allow the matter to remain over another month.

  The Inspector reported nuisances arising from defective drainage at Nos. 64, 66, 29 and 31, Harborough-road.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Inspector to serve formal notices upon the owners of these properties requiring them to carry out the necessary work.

  A further nuisance at the rear of No. 6, Alfred-street, caused by wooden premises used as stables, was reported by the Inspector, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct him to serve a formal notice in this case also, requiring the nuisance to be abated.

  A communication was received from the Solicitors to the Mortgagees of the cottages in Robert-street stating that the property would be offered for sale by auction on Monday next and the conditions of sale would contain a stipulation that the purchases must comply with the requirements of the Urban District Council as to the sanitary arrangements of the houses.

  The Inspector submitted his usual detailed list of work done during the month and further informed the Committee that he had disinfected No. 61, Harborough-road, owing to a death from consumption having taken place.

  The Committee approved the action of the Inspector in this particular and authorised him to disinfect in future all houses in which deaths from consumption took place, if the consent of the owners could be obtained.

Factories and Workshops

  Two lists had been received notifying 112 outworkers.

Notification of Births Act, 1907

  A letter was received from the Clerk to the County Council stating that the County Council had recently under consideration the provisions of this Act and inviting a similar consideration of its provisions by this Council and expressing a hope that the Council might favourably consider the question of its adoption.

  The consideration of the matter was ordered to stand over until the next meeting.

Taxation of Land Values

  A circular letter was received from the United Committee of the Leagues for the Taxation of Land Values, asking the Council to consider the urgency of passing a resolution to be forwarded to the Government in favour of their declared policy on the Taxation of Land Values.

  The Clerk was instructed to obtain further copies of the circular and forward one to each member of the Council with a view to action being taken thereon at a future meeting.

Small Holdings

  The Clerk submitted a list of applicants for Allotments and Small Holdings which he had received in response to the advertisement issued by the Council.  There were 32 applications for 419 acres – 284 arable and 185 grass.

  The list was referred to a sub-committee consisting of the Chairman, with Messrs. Ballard and Swindall, to consider and report to a future meeting.

Sewage Farm

  Sale of crops. – The Surveyor reported that the produce sold by auction on October 7^th last realised £137/0/4.

  Third Irrigation area. – The Surveyor was instructed to proceed with the drainage of this area on the scheme previously adopted.

Cemetery

  The Surveyor was instructed to renew the shrubs which had perished during the past year.

  Mr. Miller suggested that the name of Mr. Skinner should be added to the Small Holdings Committee.  As an old agriculturist he would be a very valuable member of the committee.

  The Chairman said they had not appointed the committee yet.  They had only had a preliminary sub-committee.

  The report was adopted.

Re-Appointment

  Mr. H. Hunter was unanimously re-appointed sanitary inspector.