The Open Space In High Street South

  At a meeting of this Council on Wednesday night there were present: Messrs. G. H. Skinner (chairman), F. Knight (vice-chairman), J. Claridge, G. Miller, F. Ballard, J. S. Clipson, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, A. J. Dobbs, and T. Swindall, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. W. G. F. Kingston).

Plans Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 25^th August, 1909, when there were present:- Messrs. G. H. Skinner (chairman), F. Knight, W. Bazeley, C. Bates, J. Claridge, G. Miller, and T. Swindall.

Plans

were presented by:-

  Messrs. Darlow and West, amended plan, for boot and shoe factory in Gordon-street, and passed.

  Mr. G. Streetham for coal barn at the rear of No. 3, Portland-road, and no exception taken.

  Mrs. G. Fensome for corrugated iron leather store at the rear of No. 32, Queen-street, and no exception taken.

  Mr. Asher Abbott for open shed to his premises in High-street South and no exception taken.  Mr. Abbott to give an undertaking to remove the shed when called upon to do so.

Wellingborough-Road

  A letter was received from Mr. W. G. Willmott asking the Council to continue the planting of trees along this road as far as the top of the hill, and offering to purchase the trees, provided the Council would plant and take care of them.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to accept the offer and continue the planting as requested.

Public Lighting

  The Lighting sub-Committee were requested to make an inspection of the town and report to the next meeting the attention and additions required in the street lighting.

Old Storm Water Pipes

  The Surveyor was instructed to make an offer of 1s. each for the old storm water pipes recently taken from the site of the Co-operative Wholesale Society’s new factory.

High Street South Improvement

  Attention was called to the open space in High-street South to the effect that the entrance gates of same were kept locked.  It was pointed out that the gates were only kept fastened until such time as the trees and plants had taken root, and it was resolved that the gates be opened until 6 p.m. each day.

Oakpits

  The Committee decided to make an inspection of the Oakpits at an early date.

Elm-Street and Kilburn-Place

  A letter was received from Mr. T. Patenall, together with a specification of the works proposed to be carried out by the owners in these streets, asking if the Council would be prepared to take over the roads when the works were completed.

  The Committee did not consider the specification such as would justify them recommending the Council to take over the roads as highways repairable by the inhabitants at large, but if the owners would agree to make up the roads according to the specification, and in addition make asphalt paths and channels, the Committee would recommend the Council not to proceed further under the Private Street Works Act.

  Mr. Claridge said he hoped that other landlords would follow Mr. Willmott’s example in giving trees.  The planting of trees greatly improved the appearance of the roads.

  Mr. Dobbs, referring to the open space in High-street South, asked what use it was to open the gates if they were to be closed at six o’clock.

  Mr. Claridge:  That will be late enough at this season.

  Mr. Bates took it that the matter could be reconsidered in the spring time.

  The Chairman: Oh, yes.

  Mr. Bazeley said a lot of feeling had been aroused in the matter, but the committee knew that if the space was not kept closed for a time, till the shrubs got properly rooted, a good deal of damage might have been done.  He was glad that the space was now open, and he hoped parents would warn their children not to damage the turf and trees.

  The Chairman said he never received an application for the gates to be opened.

  Mr. Ballard thought the action of the committee was a very wise precaution.

  Mr. Knight said that since making their report the committee had had another informal meeting at which they resolved that the gates be only opened when the children were in school.  The first day the gates were opened the children did a lot of damage.

  Mr. Miller suggested that the attention of the headmaster at the National School be drawn to the matter, so that he could warn the children.

  The Chairman:  He has no control over them out of school.

  Mr. Miller moved that the clause in the report referring to the space be referred back for further consideration.

  Mr. Clipson seconded the motion.

  Mr. Swindall moved as a further amendment that the space remain closed till the end of the season.

  The amendment was not seconded.

  Mr. Claridge moved that the space be opened during school hours, on five days a week.  He regretted the necessity of closing the space at all, but they wanted it kept well.

  Mr. Knight seconded, and Mr. Miller withdrew his amendment.

  Mr. Ballard could not understand why they should shut the place up on Sundays, when people were on their best behaviour.

  Mr. Claridge’s motion was carried, and the remainder of the report was adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Tuesday, the 31^st August, 1909, at 10 a.m., when there were present: Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), G. H. Skinner, F. Ballard, W. Bazeley, and J. Claridge.

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:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

  The Committee also examined the Treasurer’s accounts from which it appeared that the following sums had been paid to him on the following accounts since the last meeting:- 

  And that the following balances were in hand on the undermentioned accounts:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £299/15/1 were examined and passed for payment.

  The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 1^st September, 1909, when there were present:- Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), G. H. Skinner, F. Ballard, J. S. Clipson, A. J. Dobbs, and J. Paragreen.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The Medical Officer reported that four cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz., three of diphtheria and one of scarlet fever.  The Officer also called the attention of the Committee to the state of the effluent from the Sewage Farm, which, he stated, was not up to the standard.

  The Surveyor reported that this latter matter was receiving careful consideration, and he would shortly ask the Committee to go into the whole matter of the sewage disposal with him.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the month of August, 19 informal notices had been served calling attention to nuisances and other matters which were receiving attention.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Inspector to serve a notice upon Mr. T. Rose requiring him to provide a proper manure pit to the stables occupied by him in Rectory-road.

  The Inspector also reported that the drains of the house occupied by Mr. King, and owned by Mr. C. E. Young, were defective.

  It was resolved that a notice be served upon Mr. Young, requiring him to remedy the defects forthwith.

  The Inspector gave a detailed statement of inspections etc., made during the past month.

  The report was adopted.