Proposed New Building Site
Are The Committees Too Small?
Subsidies for Building Houses by Private Enterprise

  Wednesday, present: Councillors C. W. Horrell, C.A., J.P., (chairman), C. Claridge (vice-chairman), T. Wilmott, T. F. B. Newberry, A. Allebone, D. G. Greenfield, M.D., W. C. Tarry, F. Knight, J.P., T. Swindall, J. Spencer, J.P., J. Hornsby, G. W. Coles, J.P., C. Bates, and W. Bazeley, J.P., with the Acting Clerk (Mr. W. L. Beetenson), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. S. F. Piper), and the Medical Officer (Dr. O. A. J. N. Muriset).

  Apologies for absence were received from Mr. Corby and Mr. Roe.

Housing Committees

  A meeting of the Housing Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, July 22^nd, 1925, when there were present: Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), W. Bazeley, C. W. Horrell, T. F. B. Newberry, and T. Wilmott.

Irchester-Road Site

  A letter was received from Mr. J. S. Mason offering, on behalf of Mr. A. H. Sartoris, to sell to the Council 12,500yds. of copyhold land on the Irchester road at 2s. per yard.  The land in question had a total frontage to Irchester-road of 850ft. and would provide a site for 36 houses after making provision for two 36ft. roads required for giving access to the land at the rear.  The offer was made subject to the following conditions, viz.: That the Council (1) make the two roads in question if and when the land at the rear is developed for building purposes, (2) erect a suitable fence at the rear of the land purchased, (3) give notice to the present tenants to terminate their tenancy, and pay any compensation for disturbance to which they may be entitled.

  If the depth of the land were increased from 150ft. to 180ft., the number of houses allowed would be 46 in the place of 36, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accept the offer at the price named, subject to Mr. Sartoris agreeing to sell a strip at the rear of the width of 30ft. at a price not exceeding 6d. per yard.

  Mr. Mason also stated that Mr. Sartoris would give the Council an option for a period of twelve months to acquire further land fronting on Irchester-road as far as Knuston Spinney at 1s. per yard, subject to the reservation of sufficient land for roads in case the land at the rear should be subsequently developed.

  On the reception of the report Mr. Knight said he did not think the Council need hurry.  He wanted to know something about compensation to allotment tenants, who would pay for the roads, etc.

  The Chairman said the cost of roads was not included in the purchase.

  Mr. Knight referred to the extra depth, and said that, although ten extra houses could be built, it had been said that the extra land at the back would give opportunity for nuisance.  But he did not think the tenants would be guilty or that the Council need allow it even if they were.  He suggested that the minute be referred back for further consideration.

  Mr. Bates said the minute was brought forward so that it could be known to the public that the allotments would have to be acquired, so that with sufficient notice the Council need not have the cost of compensation.  At the committee meeting the Clerk said the committee were doing the right thing in getting on with the purchase.

  Mr. Bazeley said he hoped Mr. Knight would not press his suggestion.  It was in the best interests of the town to get the land straight away.  It meant getting more houses to the frontage.

  Mr. Knight said he did not want to shelve the subject.  He did not think the scheme would suffer for a month’s adjournment.

  In reply to Mr. Hornsby, the Chairman said the Council would not be committed to purchasing the additional land.

  Mr. Hornsby said they need not purchase the land on which they had the option.  There were other parts of the town needing development.  Allotment-holders ought to have fair notice.

  Mr. Swindall said extra information was necessary.  He thought the council committees were too small – their information was not known to enough of the Council members.  He suggested that the Council go into committee at the close for the information and then resolve themselves into Council to pass the minute.

  Mr. Tarry supported the resolution, and said it was advisable that the town should get the land.  He hoped the purchase would be decided on at that meeting, as the terms were very reasonable.

  Mr. Spencer also supported.

  Mr. Wilmott said he disagreed with Mr. Swindall over the size of the committees.  Small committees worked best, and the committees were plenty big enough.  He did not mind waiting at the end of the meeting, but there was no other information.

  Mr. Knight said he was satisfied that the minute should be passed.  It was the proper thing that the Council should get the extra ground at the back.

  The report was carried.

  Mr. Newberry asked if the Bedford-road site had been dropped.

  Mr. Bates said there was one field on which negotiations had not been dropped.

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Etc., Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, July 29^th, 1925, when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), A. Allebone, G. W. Coles, and W. C. Tarry.

Plans

were presented for:

  House on the St. Crispin Estate, Wellingborough-road, for Mr. G. Simmons, and passed.

  House in Essex-road for Mr. Cyril Skeeles, and passed.

  House in Prospect-avenue for Mr. L. H. Taylor, and passed.

  Applications for subsidies in respect of the foregoing houses were received, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Surveyor to issue certificates in respect of same as coming within the Council’s scheme for the subsidy of £100 each.

  Store-shed off the Newton road for Mr. H. Dixon and no exception taken.

Subsidies for Private Enterprise

  Having regard to the opinion expressed by the Ministry of Health, the committee resolved to recommend the Council to restrict the houses qualified for the subsidy to those not likely to cost upwards of £600.

Mr. J. W. Radburne’s Building Line

  A letter was received from Mr. Radburne’s architects asking the committee to reconsider the building line for the building proposed to be erected by him on the piece of land adjoining Mr. Warren’s butcher’s shop.

  The committee were of opinion that the line already indicated by the Surveyor was the only possible line to adopt, having regard to any future development at that point in the street, and the Surveyor was instructed to inform the architects accordingly.

Post Office Telegraphs

  An application was received from the Postmaster-General for permission to lay an underground telegraphic line in High-street from the Post Office to the Co-operative Society’s premises.

  The application was acceded to.

Washbrook-Road Railway Bridge

   A letter was received from the L.M.S. Railway Company stating that they saw no objection to the Council constructing a footpath with kerb over this bridge, provided the Council bear the expense of the necessary raising of the parapet of the bridge to its statutory height.

  The Clerk was instructed to inquire from the Company their requirements and the estimated cost of the works to be carried out, and if they would allow the Council to do what was necessary.

Classified Roads

  A letter was received from the Ministry of Transport sanctioning the estimates submitted for the maintenance and improvements on the Washbrook and Irchester roads, and the Surveyor was instructed to have the works carried out, the bridge-widening by contract and the remainder by direct labour.

High Hadyn-Road

  A letter was received from the Co-operative Society, Ltd., asking the Council to bear the expense of a manhole recently constructed by them, at the request of the Surveyor, in the surface-water drain laid in the ditch on the south side of this road, the manhole being required in connection with the Council’s system of drainage.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to pay to the Society £5  5s., the cost of the manhole.

Police Point Duty

  The Clerk was instructed to write to the Chief Constable of the county asking him to arrange for a policeman to be on point duty near the church for the purpose of regulating the traffic at the junction of the four roads there.

  Mr. Spencer suggested that similar steps be taken to have a policeman at the Oakley cross-roads.  Motors went by at a tremendous speed, and serious accidents might result.

  Mr. Allebone moved that the committee use the principle of the white line to direct traffic at cross-roads.  He said such lines were a great help to drivers and the public.

  Mr. Tarry said he had a resolution down on the subject.

  The suggestions were adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, August 12^th, 1925, at 10 a.m., when there were present: Messrs. C. W. Horrell (chairman), C. Bates, J. Hornsby, and J. Roe.

Assisted Housing Scheme – Sale of Surplus Land

  A letter was received from the Ministry of Health stating that it was considered that the proceeds of the sale of the surplus land should be utilised, after deduction of the vendors’ costs, in repayment of the 60-year money raised at 6 per cent. from the Public Works Loan Commissioners.

  The Clerk was instructed to communicate with the Commissioners with this end in view.

Local Government and Other Officers’ Superannuation Act, 1922

  The Clerk submitted a letter from the Clerk to the County Council enclosing a copy of a resolution passed by that Council approving the principle of the “admission” into the superannuation scheme established by them under the above Act of the officers of this Council.  They were unable, however, to admit the various foremen employed by the Council, as the scheme was in respect of officers only.

Housing, Etc., Acts – Architects’ Fees

  The Clerk read correspondence that had passed between himself and the Ministry of Health and the architects with regard to the latter’s fees.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to make no further representations to the Ministry with regard thereto.

  The Chairman said, re architects’ fees for houses not yet erected, the Council had been under the impression at the last meeting that the architects had agreed to the terms, but that appeared not to be the case.  The Ministry of Health had asked the Council for alternative terms.  The Council replied that they had none to offer, and the Ministry had since replied that the architects had agreed to the terms.

  The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, August 12^th, 1925, when there were present:  Messrs. F. Corby (chairman), W. Bazeley, D. G. Greenfield, T. F. B. Newberry, J. Spencer, and T. Swindall.

Health and Sanitary Reports

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

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the past month 28 nuisances had been dealt with.

  Thirty-six visits had been made to premises where food was prepared or sold, and during these inspections a quantity of pork and pork offal and ten tins of canned food had been found to be unfit for human consumption and destroyed in the usual way.  The total weight was 2cwt. 3qr. 17½lb.

  Thirteen rooms had been disinfected after cases of infectious disease.  At the Depot a quantity of bedding had been disinfected and a quantity destroyed at the sewage farm, all after cases of infectious disease.

  The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his work and inspections since the last meeting.

Rats and Mice Destruction Act, 1919

  The Inspector also reported that under this Act two complaints had been received, three premises inspected, and three treated.

Petroleum Acts

  Applications were received from the Lightstrung Co., Ltd., Church-street, Mr. J. W. Wrighton, Essex-road, and Messrs. Wadsworth Bros., Newton-road, for licences to store 500 gallons, 60 gallons, and 300 gallons of petrol respectively on their premises, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto subject to the stores being constructed to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

Smallpox Hospital

  The Medical Officer reported that the patients were discharged on July 22^nd and that the nurse, after remaining in quarantine until Saturday last, had now left, and the hospital was closed.  It was resolved that the night watchman hitherto employed be retained for the present.

  Telephone. - Owing to the formalities required by the postal authorities, it was resolved not to install the telephone for the present.

Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915

  Mr. Parks attended the meeting with regard to the procedure under this Act and suggested to the committee that they should communicate with the County Council asking for him to be appointed under the Tuberculosis Order of 1925.  The committee resolved to recommend the Council to do this.

Medical Officer’s Annual Report

  The Medical Officer’s annual report was received and ordered to be circulated amongst the members of the Council.

Council Employees

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to authorise the Surveyor to give all the employees one day’s holiday with pay on a convenient Saturday.

Cemetery – Footpath from Harborough-Road

  The committee again had this matter under consideration and agreed that the provision of a footpath must be postponed until the land between Harborough-road and Newton-road had been acquired, but instructed the Surveyor to have the gate from the top of Harborough-road leading to the Cemetery opened on Sundays from 2 p.m. to dusk until further notice.

Scavenging

  With a view to diminishing the nuisance arising from loose paper, etc., littered over the streets, it was resolved to recommend the Council to have three receptacles placed in convenient parts of High-street.

  The report was adopted.

  Mr. Hornsby asked if the Cemetery Sub-Committee were continuing to try to get a path through from Harborough-road to Newton-road by way of Pightles-terrace.  There was a very pressing need for such a footpath.

  Mr. Spencer said that too big a price had been asked for the necessary land, and for that reason negotiations had been dropped, but the committee had not lost sight of the need and would take it up again when possible.

  Mr. Hornsby said he was disappointed that that was the best to be said.