Wednesday, present: Messrs. L. Perkins, B.Sc., J.P. (chairman), C. Bates (vice-chairman), T. Wilmott, C. E. Bayes, F. Knight, J.P., F. Corby, J. Spencer, J.P., 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).

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, September 26^th, 1923, when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), L. Perkins, C. Bates, G. W. Coles, F. Corby, and C. W. Horrell.

Plans

were presented for:

  Additions to factory for Mr. John White at the rear of his factory in Newton-road, and passed subject to an emergency exit being provided.

  Additions to bungalow on Wymington-road for Mrs. Dilley, and passed.

  Alterations and additions to Rose and Crown Inn, College-street, for Messrs. John Elworthy & Co., and passed.

Team Labour

  Tenders for the supply of team labour for the ensuing six months were received, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accept that of Mr. Holley.  Any additional labour required to be obtained from Mr. Spriggs and Mr. Ashford at the respective prices quoted by them.

Subsidy Houses

  Plans for two bungalows with applications for subsidy under the Housing Act were received and their consideration adjourned until the Council’s scheme has been approved by the Ministry of Health.

Wellingborough-Road Improvement

  The Surveyor reported the receipt of a communication from the Ministry of Transport, intimating that they were prepared to make a grant of £870 towards the cost of the proposed improvement on the Wellingborough road north of the cross-roads.  The total cost of this improvement was estimated to amount to £1,740.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to apply to the Ministry of Health for sanction to borrow £870 to carry same into effect.

  As the grant from the Ministry of Transport is made for the year ending March 31^st next, the committee thought it desirable that the work should be completed by that date, and resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Surveyor to proceed forthwith.

Factory Acts

  Messrs. Knight and Lawrence. – An application was received from Messrs. Knight and Lawrence for a certificate that their factory in Manton-road was provided with adequate means of escape in case of fire, and a letter from H.M. Inspector of Factories was read calling attention to the unsatisfactory arrangements with regard to the second floor.  The Surveyor presented his report on the factory, and the committee agreed that it was impossible to issue the certificate under the present conditions.  It was suggested that an emergency iron staircase outside the factory should be provided and the doors between the clickers and girls’ room and at the top of the clickers’ staircase should be made sliding doors.

  Messrs. H. E. Wilmott & Co. – A similar application was received from this firm in respect of their factory in Portland-road, and, the Surveyor having reported thereon, it was resolved to recommend the Council to issue the certificate required.

Lamp Column, Victoria-Road

  The Surveyor read correspondence with an Insurance Company with regard to the damage done to the above and was authorised to accept an offer of £3  19s.  3d. in satisfaction.

Roads Act, 1920

  A letter was received from the Clerk of the County Council stating that the Ministry of Transport had arranged for a local inquiry into the application made by the County Council for an Order under Section 7(4) of the Roads Act, 1920, in respect of certain roads in the county, prohibiting their use by heavy locomotives.  The roads affected in this district are Little-street, Manning-street, and parts of Duck-street.    The letter asked that notices might be posted at each end of these streets and on other public notice-boards in the town, and this, the Clerk informed the committee, had been done.

  Mr. Wilmott, the chairman of the committee, was requested to attend the inquiry on behalf of the Council.

Electric Supply Company, Ltd.

  A letter was received from the Managing Director asking the Council’s consent for the Company to erect a pillar-box in connection with their distributing mains at approximately the corner of Queen-street and Rectory-road.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to give the consent asked for, the exact site of the pillar-box to be determined by the Chairman and surveyor in consultation with the Company’s Engineer.

South End School

  A letter from the Secretary of the County Education Committee was received with regard to representations made to them by the local Managers with a view to the brook which runs between the school premises and the public road being culverted.  Having regard to the fact that the brook at this point runs entirely through private property, the committee were of opinion that any necessary work of culverting should be carried out by the owners concerned, and the Clerk was instructed to reply accordingly.

Fire Brigade

  An application was received from the Brigade for permission to purchase three 50ft. lengths of hose, one pair of couplings, with a quantity of binding, at a total estimated cost of £13  16s.  3d.

  It was resolved that the Brigade be authorised to make the purchase.

Signpost

  Attention was called to the fact that the signs on the post at the corner of Washbrook-road could not be read after dusk, and a suggestion made that these signs should be placed upon a lamp-standard nearby.  The committee agreed that some alteration should be made, but deferred giving instructions pending the dealing with the triangular piece of land at this point.

Public Lighting

  It was resolved to recommend to the Council the purchase of six additional lamp-columns at £3  12s.  6d. each.  Four were required to replace broken ones, and the committee thought it desirable that two should be kept in stock.

  The report was adopted.

Improvements

  In regard to the proposed improvement of Wellingborough-road, Mr. Knight asked how far it was suggested going down the Wellingborough-road beyond the Oakley.

  The Chairman said the improvement would be carried out as far as the entrance to the Sewage Farm.

  Mr. Knight said there were other roads besides that which required attention.  It seemed to him a very extravagant expenditure, seeing it was in a position practically out of the town.  There were other expenses to which the Council was committed.  He did not object to the Wellingborough-road pavements being repaired, but the larger expense should be saved.  Newton-road was in a very bad state of repair – worse than Wellingborough-road.  The town had been waiting for 25 years for other things not yet touched.  The rate for the last half-year had been reduced by 2d.  Next year they would have to increase it by 4d., according to the attitude of the committee.  Rushden would never be as it ought to be until there was a road right through from the Station to Park-road.  The Council had no right to encourage the Ministry in wasting money any more than they would waste their own money.

  Mr. Spencer supported the committee’s recommendation, and congratulated them on their outlook.  Owing to the narrowness of the road and the vast amount of motor traffic on it, foot passengers were not safe on it, he said.  The Council would probably have to deal with the great problem of motor traffic some time in a comprehensive manner.  The Rectory-road would take much of the Station traffic, but a great deal of traffic came through the town from Northampton, Wellingborough, and southern towns.  He contemplated that it would be necessary some time to have a road from Bedford-road to Irchester-road and on to Wellingborough-road.  The present was the time to adopt such a scheme, as it would find work for a large number of unemployed.

  Mr. Corby said he sympathised with Mr. Knight, although he (Mr. Corby) was on the committee.  He agreed with the latter part of Mr. Knight’s speech as being very important.  It was imperative that something be done to relieve the traffic in High-street.  He also agreed that the sum they were now proposing to spend on Wellingborough-road was very large, and would have been better spent on the other (Rectory-road) scheme.

  Mr. Wilmott said they were all agreed on the suggested opening of the road from the Station.

  When the committee’s recommendation was put to the vote, Mr. Knight voted against and the other members voted for.

  On the proposition of Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mr. Corby, the Clerk was instructed to communicate with the owners of the Beaconsfield-terrace property and the Midland Railway to see whether it was possible to make a road through to Park-road.

The Brook

  Discussion took place on the recommended covering-in of the brook in front of the South End Schools.  Mr. Knight said that the 30 or 40 yards ought to be covered in, whoever was responsible for payment, both because it was unsightly to the townspeople and people who went through and on the point of health.  He moved that the Education Committee be asked if they would meet the Council with the cost of the improvement.  If the Council could afford to spend £2,000 or £3,000 in another part of the town, they ought to spend some on covering-in the brook, fenced as it was with a rotten wooden fence and being objectionable in other respects.

  The Chairman said the idea was a good one.  He felt certain that the Education Committee would give favourable consideration to such an offer.  Children at the South End Schools were in a very unfavourable position at present on account of the brook and of the bad state of the playground.

  Mr. Wilmott said he thought they ought to wait for an answer to the letter which they proposed to send before they offered to do the work.

  Mr. Corby asked whether the proposed reply would close the question.

  Mr. Perkins said he did not think so.

  He believed that the Board of Education would eventually take action.

  The committee’s recommendation was adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, October 3^rd, 1923, at 10 a.m., when there were present: Messrs. L. Perkins (chairman), C. Bates, C. W. Horrell, F. Knight, and T. Wilmott.

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 Accounts

  The Collector’s accounts were also examined, from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums during the past month:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

  The committee also examined the Treasurer’s accounts, from which it appeared that he had received the following sums during the past month:-

And that the balances on the under-mentioned accounts were as follow:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £1,742  18s.  10d. were examined and passed for payment.

General District Rate

  It was resolved to instruct the Rates Clerk to prepare a rate of 3s.  4d. in the £ for the half-year ending March 31^st next and submit to the Council for sealing at their meeting to be held on the 10^th instant.

Newton-Road Improvement

  The Clerk submitted a draft agreement for the sale and purchase of the Clerk’s House and land in Newton-road, which the committee approved.

  It was resolved to instruct the Clerk to communicate with the Ministry of Transport with a view to a contribution towards the cost of the purchase and improvement.    The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, October 3^rd. 1923, when there were present:  Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), L. Perkins, C. E. Bayes, C. Claridge, F. Knight, and J. Spencer.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The reports of the Medical Officer for the month of September was received.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that since the last meeting 14 nuisances had been dealt with, of which number ten had been abated.  Of the outstanding nuisances ten had also been abated.

  Six rooms had been disinfected after cases of infectious disease, and a quantity of bedding disinfected at the Depot.

  The Inspector also reported that a sewer in West-street passing under No. 20 required attention, and the Surveyor was instructed to carry out the necessary repairs.

  The Inspector also reported that the work of repairs and cleansing to the Lodge Farm, Newton-road, and the provision of a supply of drinking-water had not yet been commenced.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to serve a notice on the owner requiring the work to be carried out within 28 days.

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

Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order

  The quarterly report of the Veterinary Inspector was received, from which it appeared that on September 10^th, 11^th, and 14^th last he visited 25 premises and inspected 177 cows, making an individual examination of each udder.  The Sanitary Inspector was requested to keep certain of the cows mentioned therein under observation.

Team Labour

 Scavenging. – Tenders were received for team labour for scavenging, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accept that of Mr. N. King, the lowest.

  Collection of Tins. – Tenders were also received for the collection of tins, and that of Mr. W. G. Wilmott accepted.

Sewage Farm

  The Farm Sub-Committee reported that, as instructed, they had invited tenders for the outside painting of the buildings at the Sewage Farm, and had accepted that of Mr. A. T. Nichols, the lowest.

  The committee approved.

Sale of Crops

  The Farm Sub-Committee also reported that they had arranged for the sale of crops to take place at the farm by public auction on October 15^th.

  The report was adopted.

The Seal of The Council

was affixed to a mortgage with the Rushden Co-operative Society for £13,000 at 4¾ per cent., the greater part of the sum for 60 years, subject to six months’ notice on either side.

Railway Facilities

  The Clerk read a letter from the L.M.S. Railway Company stating that the requested improvements at Rushden Station were still under consideration, the directors not having reached a decision on the matter.

New Wards

  The Clerk said that the County Council committee who inquired into the application for more members of the Rushden Council required the present members to be allocated to the suggested new wards.

  Mr. Coles asked if that meant that the town would have to elect six Councillors next month.

  The Clerk: I don’t think so.  It is merely a formality for the life of the present Council, and members seeking re-election next time could change into other wards.

  Several members said they thought it would be most satisfactory to be allocated as near as possible to the wards in which they lived.

  The allocation was left to the Chairman and the Clerk.

Remembrance Day

  The Secretary of the Rushden British Legion (Remembrance Day) Committee wrote inviting the Council to join a parade on November 10^th, at 2.30, and asking for contributions for the fund.

  The invitation was unanimously accepted on the motion of Mr. Bates, seconded by Mr. Spencer.  In regard to the application, the Clerk said that contributions could not be taken out of the rates.  Any grant could only me made from the members of the Council as private individuals.

Loan

  The Clerk was authorised to apply for sanction to raise a loan of £3,250 to carry out the Newton-road corner improvement.