Lighting Restrictions Through Coal Shortage

Council House Tenants and Their Rents

The New Rate

  Wednesday, present Messrs. Charles Claridge, J.P. (chairman), J. Hornsby (vice-chairman), T. Wilmott, T. F. B. Newberry, J. Roe, A. Allebone, W. C. Tarry, J. Allen, F. Knight, J.P., F. Corby, T. Swindall, C. W. Horrell, C.A., L. Perkins, M.B.E., J. Spencer, J.P., G. W. Coles, J.P., W. Bazeley, J.P., and C. Bates, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. S. F. Piper).

Housing Committee

  A meeting of the Housing Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, September 15^th, 1926, when there were present: Messrs. L. Perkins (chairman), C. Claridge, A. Allebone, J. Allen, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, F. Corby, J. Roe, J. Spencer, and T. Wilmott.

Rent Arrears

  The Chairman reported to the committee the result of his interviews with various tenants who were in arrears with their rent.

  The committee took into consideration each individual case and in seven cases resolved to allow the tenants further time for payment of the arrears, and in 15 other cases instructed the Clerk to inform the tenants that unless the arrears were paid or very materially reduced by the next meeting of the committee they would recommend the Council to serve notices to quit.

Exchange Of Houses

  In two cases the committee gave permission for the tenants to exchange houses with other tenants in the town in order to enable them to obtain cheaper houses and at the same time to give better accommodation to the outside tenants.

Irchester-Road Site

  The Surveyor submitted a scheme for the erection of additional houses on this site, 32 parlour houses fronting Irchester-road and 90 non-parlour houses at the rear on new roads required to be made.

  The committee approved the scheme and instructed the Surveyor to submit it, together with the estimated cost of the road-making, to the Ministry.

  It was also resolved to recommend the Council to apply to the Ministry for sanction to a loan to defray the cost of the road-making.

Surveyor’s Salary

  The Surveyor reminded the committee that the arrangement with regard to his salary by way of additional remuneration in connection with the housing scheme ceased on September 30^th, and it was resolved to recommend the Council, subject to the approval of the Finance Committee, to continue the same arrangements until September 30^th next year.

  The report was adopted.

  On the presentation of the above report Mr. Perkins said that there were cases of tenants of Council houses in arrears of rent not altogether due to the hard times.  The committee hoped that the Council house tenants would prove model tenants and not get in arrears.  The Council were willing to wait a reasonable time where distress had been the cause of arrears, but otherwise they hoped tenants would pay up smartly.

Parks and Baths Committee

  A meeting of the Parks and Baths Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, September 22^nd, 1926, when there were present:  Messrs. D. G. Greenfield (chairman), C. Claridge, G. W. Coles, C. W. Horrell, F. Knight, L. Perkins, and T. Wilmott.

Bowling Greens

  The Emergency Committee reported that they had met at the Park and, together with a deputation from the Bowling Club, inspected the two greens.  They had instructed the Surveyor to prepare an estimate of the cost of returfing the greens and also for the construction of a new full-size green on the south side of the hard tennis courts.

  An estimate was now received for a new green, amounting to £730  13s.  3d., but the committee were unable to recommend the Council to incur this expenditure.

  With regard to the existing greens, the Chairman and Surveyor were authorised to employ an expert to advise thereon and report to the next meeting.

Open-Air Swimming Bath

  A letter was received from the Ministry of Health stating that a local Inquiry would be held by one of the Inspectors of the Department into the proposals of the Council to construct an open air swimming bath.  The Inquiry would be held as soon as practicable after the receipt of the application for a loan.

  The Surveyor was instructed to prepare the necessary plans, sections, and detailed estimates of the cost, for submission to the Ministry.

  The report was adopted.

Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, September 29^th, 1926, when there were present:  Messrs. Fred Knight (in the chair), G. W. Coles, C. W. Horrell, T. F. B. Newberry, J. Spencer, T. Swindall, W. C. Tarry, and T. Wilmott.

Plans

were presented for:

  House off Washbrook-road for Mr. A. E. Cherry, and passed.

  House on the Newton road for Mr. Sydney Parker, and passed.

  Applications for subsidies in respect of the foregoing houses were received, together with estimates of the cost thereof, which did not exceed, including the cost of the land, £700 in either case, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to issue certificates in respect of same as coming within the Council’s scheme for the subsidy of £100 each.

  New shopfront to Nos. 172 and 174 Wellingborough-road, for Mr. E. West, and passed subject to the new front not being brought forward in front of the bay windows on the same side of the street.

  Additions to the gatehouse at the entrance to Rushden Hall for Mr. A. H. Sartoris, and passed subject to the drain under the house being either cast-iron or laid in cement.

  Garage in Oakley-road for Mr. H. Whitworth and no exception taken.

  Garage in Adnitt-road for Mr. J. Ladds, and no exception taken.

  Garage at the rear of his house, No. 87 Washbrook-road, for Mr. B. P. Wilson, and no exception taken.

Miscellaneous Buildings

  Applications were received for permission to erect small temporary buildings near the premises of applicants, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to take no exception thereto.

Public Lighting

  The Lighting Sub-Committee reported that they had made arrangements for limiting the number of public lamps lighted with gas to the smallest possible consistent with safety, on 22 of the 199 lamps to be lighted at present, these all in prominent places.

  It was suggested that the lighting of shop windows might be considerably curtailed, and the Chairman was requested to ask the police to be good enough to call the attention of shopkeepers to any case they might consider lighted more than absolutely necessary.

Road Materials

  The surveyor read letters from contractors intimating a rise in prices for all road materials.

Wymington-Road Sewer

  The Surveyor was instructed to carry out the work of sewer continuation on this road by direct labour and to commence at his convenience.

Signpost

  It was resolved to ask the County surveyor to authorise an additional signpost on the Bedford road opposite Rushden Court-avenue indicating the way to Newton.

Motor-Lorry

  The Surveyor informed the committee that he had received a number of quotations with specifications for a new lorry.  These were referred to the Depot Sub-Committee to consider and report.

Cinematograph, Entertainment, and Public Halls

  The Surveyor was requested to make an inspection of the various places of entertainment in Rushden and report to the next meeting as to the means of escape in case of fire.

Postal Facilities

  A letter was received from the Postmaster at Wellingborough stating than an application had been made by the residents on the St. Crispin Estate, Wellingborough-road, and asking for the Council’s consent to the affixing of a small letter-box to the lamp-post opposite that Estate on the main road.

  It was resolved to agree to a letter-box being affixed on the post indicated.

Factory Acts

Means Of Escape In Case Of Fire

  The Clerk read a letter from Messrs. George Warner, Ltd., in reply to a letter addressed by him to that Company on July 29^th last informing them that the work of providing improved means of escape in case of fire at their factory must be taken in hand forthwith, intimating that the matter had been placed in the hands of Messrs. Whittington and Tomlin to carry out the necessary work forthwith, but it did not appear that any plan had yet been presented for approval by the committee.

  The Clerk was instructed to draw Messrs. Warner’s attention to the matter and inform them that the work must be put in hand immediately.

  No reply had been received from Messrs. Green and Coe in respect of a similar letter addressed to them on the same date, and the Clerk was instructed to inform them that the committee had resolved to recommend the Council to take immediate proceedings before the Magistrates for the penalties already incurred by them if the work had not been commenced before their next meeting on the 13^th prox.

  The report was adopted.

  On the above report Mr. Bates asked why the town could not have more than 22 out of 199 street lamps lighted on dark nights, particularly in the vicinity of Newton-road.  In surrounding streets there were no lights at all.  He asked whether there could be a better distribution so that more dangerous corners could be lighted than some at present with lights.

  Mr. Knight said that Mr. Wilmott had chosen the places and believed that he had selected the most dangerous spots.  As long as the present conditions in the coal industry lasted people would have to be satisfied with the lights.

  Mr. Wilmott said that the Gas Company had refused to allow more than 22 public street lamps, and the committee had chosen to have them at the entrances to the town and other danger spots, such as Church-street.  If they had “dobbed” a light here and there, it would have meant complaints from all over the town for many other odd lights.  There had already been two accidents at spots more dangerous than Newton-road.  If the surveyor could get permission from the Gas Company to have more lights, then other danger spots would be lighted.

  Mr. Bates said the explanation was satisfactory.  He mentioned that he had recently come at night from Bozeat, Wollaston, and Irchester, which villages were brightly lighted, and Rushden seemed like a dungeon.

  Mr. Roe said that, as the postal authorities seemed in a generous mood (over the St. Crispin Estate application for a pillar-box), the Council should try to persuade them to put on the 8 p.m. dispatch.  He did not know another town of the size of Rushden with the latest outward mail as early as 6.45.  He moved that the Clerk write and ask for the alteration.

  Mr. Spencer seconded and it was carried.

Finance And Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Thursday, October 7^th, 1926, at 10 a.m., when there were present: Messrs. C. W. Horrell (chairman), J. Hornsby, G. W. Coles, C. Claridge, F. Knight, and J. Roe.

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £3,527  18s.  3d. were examined and passed for payment.

Memorandum Of General District Rate

  The Rates Clerk submitted the following memorandum of General District Rate made on April 14^th, 1926:

  The Rates Clerk submitted a list of the irrecoverable amounts as follows:

and it was resolved to recommend the Council that they be written off as such.

General District Rate

  The committee considered the amount of the rate to be raised for the ensuing half-year, and resolved to recommend the council to levy a rate of a similar amount to that of the last half-year – namely, 4s. in the £.

Insurances

  As instructed at the last meeting, the Clerk submitted a list of the whole of the insurances of the Council, which the committee considered satisfactory and made no recommendations for any change.

Cemetery Allotments

  With regard to the future management and collection of rents, it was resolved to ask Mr. R. Tusting to undertake the work on similar terms to those lately existing with Mr. John Clark’s executors, Mr. Tusting to be asked to give directions as to the repair of the fences and some necessary draining.

Oakpits

  With regard to the addition to the Oakpits, it was resolved to offer the tenancy to the present tenant at a rental of £5 per annum for the whole field, the tenant to keep the fences in repair.

Surveyor’s Salary

  The committee approved the recommendation of the Housing Committee that the present arrangement with regard to the Surveyor’s salary should be continued for one year from September 30^th.

Irchester-Road Site

  The Clerk submitted the sanction of the Ministry of Health for the raising of a loan of £1,250 for the construction of a sewer along Irchester-road, and was instructed to negotiate a loan for that amount.

  The report was adopted.

  Mr. Horrell said that, with the rate being no higher than for the last half-year, there would be no balance.  There would be little possibility of doing extra work except that estimated for last half-year.

Health and Sanitary Committee

A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, October 6^th, 1926, when there were present:  Messrs. J. Hornsby (chairman), C. Claridge, J. Allen, D. G. Greenfield, and T. F. B. Newberry.

Health and Sanitary Reports

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

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that 33 nuisances had been dealt with during the past month, and, with the outstanding nuisances, 34 had been abated.

  Sixty-four visits had been made to premises where food was prepared or sold, during which inspections the carcases and organs of three pigs, together with the side of an ox and a quantity of offal, to the total weight of 6cwt. 0qr. 24lb., had been found to be diseased or unfit for food and destroyed in the usual way.  Four carcases and the organs of pigs and one carcase and the organs of a heifer had been submitted for inspection.

  At the Depot a quantity of bedding and articles of wearing apparel had been disinfected, and a quantity destroyed at the Sewage Farm, all after cases of infectious disease.

  Two applications were received for compensation in respect of destroyed bedding, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to replace part of the bedding destroyed at a cost not exceeding £1  7s.  6d. in each case.

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

Milk and Dairies Order

  An application was received from Mr. John Beaty, of the Home Farm, Wellingborough-road, to be registered as a cow-keeper and wholesale purveyor of milk at that address.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto subject to the cowsheds being to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

Petroleum  Acts

  An application was received from Messrs. Wadsworth Bros. For a licence to store 500 gallons of petrol in an underground steel tank at their garage in Park-road, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto subject to the tank and proposed pump being constructed to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

Cinematograph Acts

  An application was received from Mr. B. Vorley on behalf of the Band of Hope Union for permission to hold a cinema entertainment in the Queen-street Schoolrooms on the 11^th inst.  The Inspector had inspected the schools and recommended that the application be granted.  The committee approved.

Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order

  The quarterly report of the Veterinary Inspector was received, from which it appeared that on September 16^th and 17^th he made his quarterly inspection of the dairy cows in the district, visiting 20 premises and inspecting 174 cows, making an individual examination of each udder.  With the exception of three, which were being dealt with by the County Authority, the cows were clinically normal and the majority in good condition.  There was a marked improvement in the cleanliness of the cowsheds.

Mortuary

  It was understood that the members of the St. John Ambulance Association took exception to the proposal to place a mortuary under the present building in Station-road, and in these circumstances it was agreed to abandon the idea for the present.

Kilburn-Place

  The Inspector reported that the owner of this property had not yet provided coppers and was instructed to ask for them to be supplied with as little delay as possible.

Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919

  It was resolved to hold a Rat Week from November 1^st to 8^th, and to pay 3d. Per tail brought in, as was done last year.

  It was also resolved to engage two rat-catchers (part-time) for a period of three months, at 10s. per week, on the refuse tips.

Public Health and Clean Milk

  The Inspector submitted reports on the bacteriological examinations of five samples of milk taken in this district.  One of these cases was very satisfactory, and the Inspector was instructed to communicate with the three other purveyors with a view to the dairies being kept in a better condition.

  The Inspector informed the committee that he attended the conference at Moulton as arranged and the information obtained would be very useful to him.

Albion-Place

  The Surveyor submitted an estimate for making up the existing roadway from High-street South to Park-road running through this property, and, to avoid the expense of putting into operation the Private Street Works Act, it was resolved that the various owners be approached with a view to contributing their portion of the expense voluntarily, the Council to pay a proper share in respect of the public footpath forming portion thereof.

Team Labour

  It was resolved to renew the contracts with Messrs. Holley, Spriggs, and Wilmott for day-work carting for the ensuing six months on the same terms as for the past six months, and also to renew the contracts with Messrs. C. Holley and N. M. King for team labour for house scavenging for a similar period of six months on the same terms.

Refuse Disposal

  The sub-committee’s report on their visit to Letchworth and Aylesbury, having been circulated amongst the members of the committee, was further considered, and it was ultimately resolved to postpone any report to the Council until the sub-committee had visited Newark.

Cemetery Extension

  A letter from the Ministry of Health was read stating that the Minister, on the information at present before him, did not see his way clear to sanction a loan for the purchase of the 5½ acres of land contracted to be purchased from Mr. Hodgkins.

  It was resolved to ask the Ministry to give an interview to representatives of the Council upon the subject.

  The committee recommended that Dr. Greenfield and the Clerk be appointed to attend.

Sewage Farm

  The Farm Sub-Committee reported that they had arranged for the sale of crops to take place on October 11^th.

Footpath In Harborough-Road

  A memorial was received from the residents in Harborough-road asking that access be given from the top of the road to the Cemetery, and it was resolved that the gate at that spot be in future opened each day from 2 to 4 p.m.

  The report was adopted.

Mortgage

  The seal of the Council was placed to a mortgage with Mr. Joseph Knight for the new housing scheme of £1,300 at 5 per cent.

Public Danger

  A letter was received from the Rushden branch of the Boot and Shoe Operatives’ Union drawing the attention of the Council to the danger to pedestrians in Bedford-road from the want of a footpath, emphasis being placed on the risk from fast-moving traffic and glaring head-lights.  They asked that a footpath be made from High-street South to the Wymington-road turn (past the Isolation Hospital).

  Mr. Horrell said they all recognised the need for improvement.  The Highways Committee knew that something would have to be done.  He moved that the matter be referred to that committee.

  Mr. Bates seconded.

  Supporting, Mr. Wilmott said that the matter had not been forgotten.  Last year the Highways Committee asked the County Council or the Roads and Bridges Committee to assist in making a footpath exactly as mentioned in the letter and, in addition, to assist in arching in the brook.  Had the Rushden Council received help from the higher authority in any shape or form the covering of the brook and the construction of a footpath would have been done.  However, they might try again.  The letter made it look as if the Rushden Council had to wait until the Labour Council, or boot and shoe operatives, or the man-in-the-street enlightened them!

  Mr. Perkins suggested that the Council erect a temporary fence to make it safer for people to walk past the brook, especially on foggy nights.

  The motion was carried.

Invitations

  The Council gave the usual permission to the British Legion to hold a service at the War Memorial on November 11^th and accepted the Legion’s invitation to attend.

  The Chairman also passed on to the members an invitation he had received to attend a League of Nations meeting on November 14^th.

Lower Rents For Rushden

Official List

  The Rushden general district rate for the ensuing half-year having been sealed by the Council on Wednesday (the same as last half) and the poor rate being reduced, Rushden householders will have their rents reduced according to the following official scale.  The reductions come into force at once, and householders who pay their rent to-morrow (Saturday) should see that the reduction is allowed.  The last column is the list which will remain in force until next April.