The Subsidy For Privately Built Houses
The Proposed Widening Of Rectory-Road
The British Legion And Unemployment

  Wednesday, present: Messrs. C. Bates (vice-chairman) presiding, T. Swindall, T. Wilmott, C. E. Bayes, C. Claridge, F. Knight, J.P., F. Corby, J. Spencer, J.P., J. Hornsby, and G. W. Coles, J.P., with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. S. F. Piper).

Council in Committee

  A meeting of the whole Council in Committee was held near the triangle at the bottom of Washbrook-road on Wednesday, Oct. 24^th, 1923, at 2.30 o’clock in the afternoon, when there were present: Mr. Charles Bates (vice-chairman), Messrs. T. Wilmott, F. Knight, C. Claridge, F. Corby, J. Hornsby, and C. W. Horrell.

  The committee had under consideration the setting-out of the triangle, having regard to the recent road improvement near thereto, and it was decided to widen the main road by throwing a portion of the present triangle into it and to extend the triangle to the south-west to a line agreed upon.

  It was also decided to place a public lamp at each corner of the triangle, one of them to be an all-night lamp, and to have the road-sign so arranged that the light from one of the lamps will make it discernible after dark.

  The committee then visited Spencer Park and inspected the bowling greens and tennis courts now under repair, and the Surveyor was instructed to order further grass seeds from Messrs. Sutton & Co. for the No. 2 bowling green, and also a quantity of fine sand for greens and lawns.

  Directions were also given to the Surveyor as to additional planting and the taking out of the tops of the poplar trees at the rear of Spencer Park,

  The report was adopted.

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, October 31^st, 1923, when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), L. Perkins, C. Bates, C. W. Horrell, and J. Hornsby.

Plans

were presented for:-

  Lock-up shop in Hove-road for the Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society, Ltd., and passed.

  W.C. to No. 89, High-street South, for Mr. J. E. James, and passed.

  Six bungalows on the Court Avenue-road for Mr. Alfred Phillips, and rejected as not being in accordance with the bye-laws.

  Dwelling-house in Oakley-road for Mr. James Penny, and passed.

  W.C. and lavatory at the rear of No. 48, High-street, for the Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society, and passed.

  Shed in Victoria-road for Mr. Hugh Nicholson, adjoining his factory, and no exception taken provided a proper plan be deposited with the Surveyor.

  Conversion of private dwelling-house at the corner of Trafford-road into a house and shop for Mr. W. Packwood, and passed.

  Dwelling-house in Essex-road for Mr. H. C. Smith, and passed subject to a block plan being supplied.

  Bungalow on the Wymington road for Mrs. M. Sills, and passed.

  Bungalow on the Wymington road for Mr. S. Linnell, and passed.

Miscellaneous Buildings

  Applications were received from Mr. H. Everingham for permission to erect a coal-shed at the rear of his house on the Higham-road, and from the Tecnic Boot Co., Ltd., for a cycle-shed near their factory on the Bedford road, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to take no exception thereto.

East-Grove

  A memorial was received from the occupiers in East-grove asking that the road leading thereto from Rectory-road might be repaired.

  It was pointed out that, this being a private road, the Council had no power to spend money thereon.  The Clerk was instructed, however, to write to the owners of the properties in East-grove asking them to meet and arrange between themselves what could be done.

Allen-Road

  A memorial was also received from the occupiers in Allen-road requesting that footpaths be constructed in that road.

  The Surveyor was instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of constructing a footpath on the south side of the road and then communicate with the owners with a view to their agreeing to pay their apportioned share of the expense.

Dangerous Corners

  The Surveyor submitted a letter from the County Surveyor approving the plan for rounding off the Newton and Avenue roads (north) corner, the estimated cost of which amounted to £42, and agreeing to contribute a sum of £31  10s. towards the cost.  The cost of the land thrown into the road would be £2  10s., which would be payable by the Council.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Surveyor to proceed at once with the work.

Rectory-Road

  The Clerk reported that, as instructed at the last meeting of the Council, he had written to the owner of the Beaconsfield-terrace property with regard to the purchase of part of this property for the widening of Rectory-road.  He had since received a reply from Mrs. Warner asking to be supplied with a comprehensive plan of the whole scheme, together with full particulars thereof.

  The Surveyor was instructed to prepare the plan required, and in the meantime the Clerk was requested to approach the L.M.S. Railway Company and ask them to meet a deputation from the Council, consisting of the Chairman, Clerk, and Surveyor, on the subject of the proposed scheme.

Subsidy Houses

  The Clerk reported that he had received from the Ministry of health a letter requesting to be furnished with further information on various points of the Council’s scheme, to which he had replied, and since received a letter from the Ministry, dated October 25^th, 1923, stating that the Minister approved generally the proposals of the Council for affording financial assistance to private enterprise in the erection of houses by means of a lump sum grant of £100, in so far as they related to the estimated number of houses – viz., 50 – for which the authority expect to promise assistance within three months from the date of the letter.  It would be for the Council to satisfy themselves that the houses complied with the prescribed conditions as to size, etc., and are commenced not earlier than the date of the letter and are completed within the prescribed period.  The letter further stated that in issuing certificates the Council should ordinarily limit their promise of assistance to such houses as were likely to be commenced before March 31^st next and completed before September 30^th next.  In three months’ time the Minister to be furnished with the observations of the Council on the scheme in general.

  With reference to the guarantee proposed to be given to the Northampton Town and County Building Society, the letter suggested that they should be approached with a view to some slight modifications.

  A letter from the Building Society was also submitted, with their revised scheme, under which the guarantee would only be required for the balance of the loans outstanding, exceeding two-thirds of the cost after deduction of subsidy.

  The committee considered the scheme quite satisfactory.

  The Surveyor was authorised to issue certificates in respect of houses for Mrs. Sills and Mr. S. Linnell, plans for which had been passed at this meeting, qualifying for the subsidy.

Roads Act, 1920

  The Chairman reported that, as instructed at the last meeting, he attended the inquiry at the County Hall, Northampton, on October 18^th, with regard to the closing of certain roads in this district to heavy vehicular traffic.  There was no opposition.

  The report was received.

  Mr. Wilmott, referring to the Beaconsfield-terrace suggested improvement to open a road, said he was pleased that the matter was proceeding.

  In reply to Mr. Spencer, the Clerk said that the Council had power under the Private Roads Act to carry out the work of improving East-grove.

  The report was adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, November 7^th, 1923, at 10 a.m., when there were present: Messrs. L. Perkins (chairman), C. Bates, F. Corby, C. W. Horrell, J. Hornsby, Fred Knight, and T. Wilmott.

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £2,822  10s.  10d. were examined and passed for payment.

Audit

  The Chairman reported the receipt of a letter from the District Auditor stating that he completed the audit of the accounts of the Council and their Officers for the year ended March 31^st last on October 4^th.

  He suggested that the guarantee bonds in respect of the various Officers be cancelled and one bond entered into covering the whole of the Officials.

  The Auditor also suggested that the fire policies on the Council’s properties to be all cancelled and one policy issued for the whole.

  The committee agreed with both suggestions, and instructed the Clerk accordingly.

  The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, November 7^th, 1923, when there were present: Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), C. E. Bayes, C. Claridge, L. Perkins, and T. Swindall.

Health and Sanitary Reports

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

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that since the last meeting 29 nuisances had been dealt with, and of the outstanding cases ten had been abated.

  Fifty-five visits had been made to premises where food was prepared or sold, and during the inspections a quantity of beef and beef offal, mutton and mutton offal, and the carcase and organs of a pig had been found diseased and unfit for food, which had been destroyed in the usual way.

  Six rooms had been disinfected after cases of infectious disease and a quantity of bedding disinfected at the depot.  A quantity of bedding had also been destroyed.

  The inspector also reported that the notice served on the owner of the cottages in Albion-place and High-street South had not been complied with.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to serve a statutory notice on the owners requiring the work of repair, etc., to be carried out within 28 days.

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

Refuse Receptacles

  The Inspector of Nuisances submitted a report with regard to the following house showing the nature of the accommodation for the deposit of refuse:-

  High-street – Dilapidated box and bath.

  It appeared to the committee by this report that the house therein referred to was without a sufficient ashtub, ashpit, or other receptacle for the deposit of refuse, and it was resolved to report to the Council accordingly, with a recommendation that a notice be served upon the owners requiring them within 28 days to provide for such house a sufficient and proper receptacle.

Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act, 1922

  The Inspector also reported that an application had been received from Mr. J. W. Smith, of the Court Estate, Bedford-road, to be registered as a cowkeeper and retail purveyor of milk.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the application subject to the cowsheds and milk-stores being to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

Sewage Farm

  The Surveyor reported that Mr. John Clark had made application for permission to drive cattle through part of the land belonging to the sewage farm for a short period.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to offer to Mr. Clark the land in question for grazing purposes to December 31^st next, at a rent of £3.

  The Farm Sub-Committee recommended that the arable land, about three acres in extent, upon which oats had been grown this year be laid down to grass.

  The committee agreed, and resolved to recommend the Council accordingly.

  Mr. Knight, having asked, was informed that Mr. Clark had accepted the Council’s offer.

  The report was adopted.

No Action

  The Clerk read a letter from the Urban Councils’ Association enclosing a resolution which they asked the Rushden Council to support, being in effect an application to the Ministry of Health to institute legislation to authorise Councils to pay members for loss of remunerative time spent on special business or other than ordinary meetings of the whole Council or committees.

  On the motion of Mr. Knight, seconded by Mr. Wilmott, it was decided not to take action in the matter.

Unemployment

  A copy of the circular on a proposal for solving unemployment was received from the British Legion (having already been published in the Press).

  Mr. Spencer moved that the Council approve of the effort to solve the problem.  He said it needed drastic treatment.  No Government, so far, had attempted to deal with the question.  He knew of a town where there were 80,000 unemployed, and in Newcastle-on-Tyne there were thousands of children without boots and shoes.  Although the present Government was now retiring, the matter ought to be dealt with.

  Mr. Coles seconded, not, he said, because he liked every suggestion in the proposal of the Legion.  But some effort should be made.  There was nothing so sad as the unemployment in the country, a result of the war.  It had not been brought about by the workshy.  It had fallen on the honest worker, and it was a wicked shame that something could not be done nationally whereby the willing should be given an opportunity to work.  It was no good trusting the Government.  He would, however, take strong exception to the use in the circular of the word “dole.”  Money had been paid in for the benefit, and it was not a “dole.”  No one would ever refer to the sums of £5,000 paid to high officials as the “dole,” and the unemployment benefit was not a “dole.”

  Mr. Knight said he could not speak entirely in favour of the resolution, though he agreed to some extent with the mover and seconder.  It certainly was time something was done to find work.  They knew what was partly the reason there were so many unemployed.  He did not agree that the late Government had not done anything for the unemployed.  The Government had wanted to place ex-Servicemen – probably  members of the British Legion – into the building trade – (Mr. Wilmott: 50,000.) – and would have helped them, but the Builders’ Operatives’ Union would not allow it.  Therefore, people should not blame the Government to the extent that some did.  In Rushden 400 or 500 houses were wanted, but there were no bricklayers in the town or district.  Birmingham City Authority had asked that a large number of unskilled men be used, but the Union would not allow it.

  Mr. Spencer: Mr. Wilmott said a little time ago that there were 41 builders’ operatives out of work in Rushden.

  Mr. Wilmott: That was the labourers.  There are no bricklayers or plasterers.  The Government offered to pay £5 a man for 50,000 ex-Servicemen to be taught, but the men’s Union would not allow it.  The Master’s Federation was willing to put them on.  In Glasgow bricklayers were wanted for municipal houses, but 500 were employed by private enterprise and only 40 or 50 could be got by the Council.

  Mr. Hornsby said that anything that would add one iota to the solution of the problem would have his hearty support.

  The motion was carried nem. con.

Various Items

  The Clerk reported on the action taken by the County Council regarding the Rushden Council’s application for an increased number of Councillors, etc., already reported in The Rushden Echo.

  Mr. Claridge asked if the Lighting Committee were satisfied with the street lighting.  Personally, he did not think there was any improvement.  It was nothing like he had expected.  He considered there ought to be a light at the junction of High-street and Station-road up to midnight.  The previous night, about eleven o’clock, he could not see a yard in front of him at that corner.

  The Chairman said the Council had not received any complaints.

  Mr. Wilmott said the lights were kept on half-an-hour longer now there were electric lamps, namely, 11 p.m.  In one or two places in High-street lights were kept on all night.